Former chief Roy Whitney elected again in Tsuut'ina Nation

Voters of the Tsuut'inaNation returnedRoy Whitney to the position of chief as part of Wednesday's election, according to a spokesperson.

Whitney will return as chief for his 11th term. His 1984 appointment lasted 17 years.

"I am humbled at the renewed mandate given to me by the people of theTsuut'inaNation," Whitney said in a statement. "I commit to them that I will work tirelessly, with respect and transparency, to further their interests, to respect the social and natural environment, and promote our language, history and culture."

Whitney defeated incumbent Lee Crowchild, son of former chief Gordon Crowchild and grandson of former chief David Crowchild, for whom the city's Crowchild Trail was named.

"I want to formally and sincerely thank Lee Crowchild for his dedicated work forTsuut'ina," Whitney said.

On his election in 2012, Ric McIver, who at the time was Alberta's transportation minister, said it was "hard to say" how Whitney's role as chief would impact the status of Calgary'sring road.

But members ofTsuut'ina First Nation under Whitney voted 69 per cent in favour of the deal, which allowed the southwest leg of Calgary's ring road to run through the reserve.

• S.W. ring road deal approval 'historic,' says Tsuut'ina chief

New councillors named as part of Wednesday's election included:

• Kelsey Big Plume
• Paula Big Plume
• Stanley Big Plume
• Emmett Crowchild
• Steven Crowchild
• Vincent Crowchild
• Brent Dodginghorse
• Lawrence Lyle Dodginghorse
• Corrine Eagletail
• Leon Littlelight
• Shay Runner
• Ellery Starlight

"In the days ahead I intend to quickly meet with the new council to set our priorities and a work plan to see progress on the many initiatives thatTsuut'inahas underway, and to move the goal-posts on new initiatives to better the lives of current and futureTsuut'inapeople," Whitney said.