[ad_1]
Yellowknives Dene First Nation members will elect the new chief of Ndilǫ, N.W.T. on Monday.
CBC News spoke to each of the four candidates vying for the job. Here’s what they had to say about why they’re running.
Fred Sangris
Fred Sangris, who lives in Ndilǫ, is the incumbent candidate in the race.
He said he wants to be re-elected to carry on some of the big projects he’s been working on over the years, including the Akaitcho land claims and self-government process, and getting an apology from the federal government for the harms caused by Giant Mine.
He said the biggest issue in his community is one that’s felt across the territory: adequate housing.
“We’ve been managing to build housing. Thanks to the federal government, we got some funding to build some houses but that’s not enough. We have to continue building a lot in the future,” he said.
Elizabeth Liske
Elizabeth Liske, who lives in Yellowknife but grew up in Ndilǫ, said she’s running to bring a new perspective to the role, as she comes from a different generation than the other candidates.
Liske said she has experience that makes her qualified for the role.
“I’ve sat on different boards, so I have some experience with governance and making decisions,” she said.
Liske said she would focus on dealing with social issues, as members have concerns with the amount of drugs in the community.
“There needs to be a focus on the trauma that Indigenous people have experienced and that drugs are a way of dealing with that. So overall, just healing needs to happen,” she said.
Liske said other issues she’s heard from people include the self-government negotiations, Giant Mine as well as receiving the cows and plows settlement.
Shirley Tsetta
Shirley Tsetta, who lives in Ndilǫ, said she is running because of her previous experience on council.
She said her priority will be to provide regular updates to people on issues like land claim and self-government negotiations, and cows and plows. Shirley Tsetta said she’s heard complaints from people that those in leadership haven’t provided enough updates.
“What I’ve been hearing is the frustration of not getting regular updates,” she said.
“People don’t know what exactly [is] going on in terms of our negotiations and our cows and plows. That’s another big issue that people are concerned about because a lot of our elders may not benefit from it.”
Shirley Tsetta said housing is another major issue facing the community, as well as membership transfers.
“There are some members that have children that were born and raised in the community but belong to another nation, and they want to transfer over. So, that’s another big concern as well,” she said.
Ted Tsetta
Ted Tsetta, who’s a former Ndilǫ chief, said he’s running for chief because he’s always willing to fight for the people.
“I’ve fought for them before. I went to court under our treaty when the caribou was taken away from me; I fought in court for three years,” he said. “I’m always here for the people.”
Ted Tsetta, who said he lives about two minutes from Ndilǫ, said the biggest issues facing the community include cows and plows and housing. He said if elected, he would lobby so the community would get direct funding from Ottawa instead of through the territorial government.
He also said he’d also make it a priority that youth are taught how to live on the land.
[ad_2]
Source link
