Record number of candidates running for Dene National Chief

A record number of candidates are running for Dene National Chief.

The election will take place in Fort Good Hope, N.W.T., at the Dene National Assembly on July 24. Online voting will open on July 14 and run until July 24, while in-person ballots can be cast at the assembly.

Six people have put their names forward for the role, which doubles as the N.W.T. regional chief for the Assembly of First Nations.

This includes incumbent Gerald Antoine, his predecessor Norman Yak'e ula, former Tłı̨chǫ grand chief George Mackenzie, Kátł'odeeche First Nation Chief April Martel, former Sahtu MLA Paulie Chinna and former Smith's Landing First Nation chief Gerry Cheezie.

"I think most of you would be familiar with most of these candidates," said Kit Spence, the returning officer, in a news conference Monday.

Phil Moon Sun, the CEO of Dene Nation, said this appears to be the highest number of candidates on record to run for the role.

"Judging from our records, and we haven't done a deep dive, but yes this is the most candidates," he said.

The election will be done using a hybrid format of in-person and electronic voting.

Spence said the nominations opened April 26 and closed May 24. Seven submissions were received but only six which were accepted.

He said one was rejected because candidates needed to have five nominators who are active members of the Dene Nation, including two sitting chiefs, and the one applicant didn't have any sitting chiefs on their nomination list.

The Dene National Chief election is delegated, which means communities select and appoint delegates to attend the assembly and vote.

Those delegates who are unable to vote in person can do so online.

"I have conducted a number of elections in British Columbia for First Nations using electronic voting and have found this is a system that is well-regarded and well-used," Spence said.

The Dene Nation used online voting in the Dene National Chief election in 2021, in the midst of the COVID pandemic.

Spence said candidates are not allowed to use the Dene Nation's administrative resources for the campaign and have to use their own resources.