More than 50 Yellowknives Dene First Nation members came to hear three Ndilo chief candidates speak Thursday ahead of a Sept. 6 election.
The YKDFN Ndilo ChiefsSA国际影视传媒� Forum was the first opportunity for members of the First Nation to hear from the candidates running for Ndilo chief: Alex Beaulieu, Ernest Betsina and Shirley Tsetta. Shortly after the opening prayer, members of the local media SA国际影视传媒� CBC, Moose FM, Yellowknifer and Native Press SA国际影视传媒� were asked to leave the forum after a membersSA国际影视传媒� vote.
Tsetta voted to let the media stay, adding she was unhappy about the outcome because only a handful of members participated. For this type of vote, Tsetta said there is no minimum number of voters needed to pass a decision.
SA国际影视传媒淚 wanted the media to stay, I did,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 was telling people that not everybody is here and some of the members that couldn't make it, they wanted to hear it and read about it.SA国际影视传媒�
Tsetta said she was unhappy that only people who happened to attend the forum benefitted from hearing what the candidates had to say.
Ernest Betsina, candidate and incumbent Ndilo chief, said he did not participate in the vote on whether to have media stay or leave as he wanted to see what the members thought.
SA国际影视传媒淟ast time I ran, there was no media there,SA国际影视传媒� said Betsina, when asked how common it is for media not to be allowed to attend pre-election events. SA国际影视传媒淚t's the membership, they're in charge, so we asked them.SA国际影视传媒�
Without media spreading the word about the candidates and their platforms, Betsina said he plans to visit the membership in Ndilo and Dettah in their homes. Tsetta said she will reach out to members by going door-to-door, posting on Facebook and doing media interviews.
Betsina said one challenge is connecting with members living in Yellowknife, and outside the city.
The three candidates said they were pleased with the turnout and the discussion at the forum, which lasted nearly two hours longer than the scheduled two hours.
One major topic of conversation was the amount of vehicles and other refuse in yards around Ndilo.
Betsina said many members were complaining about the cars and the owners were there as well to respond.
SA国际影视传媒淎ll in all, the majority of people said they want all that area to be cleaned up,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淪o I have to listen to my people and that's the direction I got so when I get elected in I'll definitely get that area cleaned up.SA国际影视传媒�
Beaulieu said homelessness, addictions and housing were all important issues raised.
SA国际影视传媒淎 band in Yellowknife like this, we should be the richest band across Canada but it looks to me like we're at the very tail end of it,SA国际影视传媒� Beaulieu said. SA国际影视传媒淚n order to curb that we have to go back to our grassroots.SA国际影视传媒�
Betsina added Ndilo is running out of land for people to build homes.
Tsetta said members wanted more members of YKDFN employed at Det'on Cho Corporation and the band.
SA国际影视传媒淲hy aren't our members employed in some of those positions, why are they held by other people?SA国际影视传媒� she said, echoing the questions she heard from the public.
Other community members were concerned about how long the land-claim negotiations are taking, something that all three candidates have stated as a priority in their run for Ndilo chief.
The last election for Ndilo chief was held in 2013. Ernest Betsina won with 122 votes against Shirley Tsetta's 121 and acting chief Roy Erasmus Sr.'s 108 votes.
Advanced voting ahead of the Sept. 6 election will start Aug. 30 and run until Sept. 5. YKDFN members can vote in advance from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the first floor of the Det'on Cho building in Ndilo. On Sept. 6 YKDFN members can vote from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Dettah and Ndilo gyms as well as the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre in Yellowknife.
