Process of Regional Elections for Grand Chief Under Way
FORT LIARD, NT – Feb. 20 — Regional elections for the Dehcho First Nations Grand Chief took a major step forward at the leadership meetings held here late last week.
The Spring Leadership Meeting, May 14-16, appointed its executive as an elections committee, with legal counsel, to review and make recommendations to the annual assembly at Kakisa Lake next month. The committee will review all previous research, resolutions and discussions from previous meetings on a regional Grand Chief election.
Current practice is to elect a Grand Chief for a three-year term at the annual assembly but most speakers at the Leadership meeting supported a regional election and said this reflected a long-standing desire by communities to have a direct election.
Four other resolutions were passed at the Fort Liard meeting for the assembly’s consideration:
- The DFN Leadership should be registered as the Board of Directors, replacing the executive in that structure;
- Amendments to bylaws and Letters Patent to more fully reflect existing procedures and practices;
- Requests Indian and Northern Affairs Canada to release current and future updated DFN membership lists in Dehcho communities; and that the Métis of Fort Providence, Fort Simpson and Fort Liard update their membership lists and forward them to DFN; and
- Support the PKFN at Wrigley in their desire to build a swimming pool in the policy of promoting wellness and healthy communities in the DFN.
For further information please contact the DFN office