Norman Yakelaya is the Dene Nation's new national chief, but he's not in any way new to the political scene in the NWT.

Yakeleya is probably best known across the territory for his three terms as MLA for Sahtu, and also as chair of the Sahtu Tribal Council and chief of the Tulita Dene Band.

He beat out two other candidates to replace long-time national chief Bill Erasmus in an Aug. 22 vote at the 48th Dene National Assembly in Hay River.

The new leader collected 96 votes. His closest competitor was Eileen Marlowe with 75 votes, while Richard Edjericon received 61 votes.

There were 243 eligible voters at the national assembly, 232 of whom cast ballots.

Edjericon is the former chair of the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board and former Yellowknives Dene First Nation chief for Dettah.

Marlowe, originally from Lutsel K'e but now living in Yellowknife, is the director of communications for the Akaitcho Treaty 8 Tribal Corporation.

In his acceptance speech, Yakeleya thanked delegates for the honour of being elected the new national chief.

"It's a privilege to be a servant of you, of the Dene people," he said.

Yakeleya called for unity among the Dene.

"I want to let the world know the Dene are strong and good people," he said to applause. "And I can't understand why other people think of us differently. However, we can change that and we will change that. Starting today, the love and kindness we have and the strong beliefs and values we have we will change the world, and the Dene will be the ones to change the world. We can do it."

With his election, Yakeleya also replaces Erasmus as the regional chief for the NWT with the Assembly of First Nations.

In his acceptance speech, he committed to bring back an elders' advisory council, along with an advisory council made up of youth and another of women.

Yakeleya paid tribute to Erasmus for his many years of service as national chief.

"I want to thank him from the bottom of my heart for leading the nation and bringing it to where it is today," Yakeleya said.

An emotional Erasmus thanked the members of the Dene Nation for their support over the years and encouraged them to give their full support to Yakeleya.

"Because the things that we're wanting to do will not happen just from the national office," Erasmus said. "It has to happen all around."

The outgoing national chief served 28 years in that position SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½“ from 1987 to 2003 and again from 2006 to this year.