Elaine Auger has big goals for her first term as K'atlo'deeche First Nation (KFN) chief. 

Auger was elected on Dec. 13, replacing outgoing chief April Martel, who had held the job for six years. 

"I'm still going through the transition," Auger said on Dec. 19, the day before she was official sworn in as leader. "Once [the swearing in] is done, then I think it will hit me.

"Once I get working, then it'll really hit me." 

Auger defeated opponent Ken Norn 129 votes to 80 to win the election, which means she received more than 60 per cent of the 211 votes cast. Two ballots were spoiled.

The new chief previously worked as KFN's negotiations administrator, assistant executive director and acting director of finance, and has also held roles in administration, finance and management with other organizations. 

It is not the first time she's sought the role. She first put herself in the running in 2021, but was deemed ineligible because she had not lived in the community for two years at the time. She then ran again in a 2022 byelection, after an independent adjudicator decided her initial ineligibility was unfair. She narrowly lost that race to Martel. 

She believes people voted for her this time around because they know and trust her.

"I'm well known in the community," she said. "I'm from the K'atlo'deeche First Nation, so a lot of people know me personally, and know I have good values, good ethics, and they know that I will carry things out to the best of my ability, and follow the code of conduct."

While Auger admits she will spend her first few weeks as chief learning the ins and outs with the job, she is already planning on tackling several of the biggest challenges currently facing the First Nation. 

For one, she intends to help residents continue to recover from the devastating floods and wildfires of previous years.

"One priority is to deal with the housing issues during the flood and fire," she said. "There are some homes that have not been completed, and we're still dealing with a housing crisis on the reserve. That's one of my main goals, to get that looked at and taken care of."

"Another priority," she added, is "to get more programs and services within the community regarding alcohol and drug programs."

She also aims to increase the availability of job training for members. 

Martel held the job for two terms. Auger said it's too early to say if she will pursue a second term, but she is optimistic that the future is bright for KFN.

"I believe we will overcome these obstacles we've had to deal with the past couple years, with the fires and the flood," she said. "We have a good team moving forward.

"I'm looking forward to it. I'm ready to get to work right away."