Newly-minted Dene national chief talks priorities, relationships after election

People were holding their breaths, tense and giddy with excitement, as they wondered late into Wednesday evening who will be the next Dene national chief?

At about 8:30 p.m., outgoing Chief Bill Erasmusand the assembly's chief electoral officer made the announcement: Norman YakeleyaofTulita, N.W.T. (who now lives in Yellowknife)will take over the rolewith 96 votes of the 232.

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His competition, Richard Edjericon and Eileen Marlowe would follow relatively close behind, Marlowe with 75 and Edjericonwith 61.

The DeneNation, a political advocacy group that represents five main regions Sahtu, Gwich'in, Akaitcho, Dehcho and Tlichois at the helm of a "new era," accordingmany chiefs and leaders at the 48th assembly.

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CBC Northcaught up with Yakeleyapost election late Wednesday, and here's what the new Denenational chief had to say.

The interview has been condensed for clarity and space

Q: Norman congratulations on your win.

Mahsicho (thank you).It was a good, long marathon campaign. I'm honoured.

Q: What are your first priorities as chief?

Toestablish an elderscouncil to work with the Dene leadership,and also to look at the constitution bylaws and have a discussion on modifying itto bring it up to date.

Q: You also mentioned youth and women's councils. How do those factor into your vision of the Dene Nation?

Through the review of the organization itself, I'll look at establishing a women's council. When we relate back to the culture of our people, there are women in leadership in all facets of life in our communities.

I'd like to establish a young leadership program so that one day they will fill the shoes of the national and communityleadership.

Q: It's been packed here. How does it make you feel to be voted in at such a huge assembly?

It's a really humbling experience. It's an honour because the people here are looking at the Dene Nation for a leader that will lead them into a new era.

People are thirsting for a new direction with Canada.

Q: We're in an era of regional governments. How do you imagine the DeneNation working with those?

The Dene Nation is a servant of the regional governments, respecting their jurisdictions,land claims, self-governments and negotiations.

I want to build a new relationship with Ottawaand the N.W.T. government.We will work with you. That doesn't mean we're going to become you.- Norman Yakeleya, Denenational chief

Even our brothers and sisters in Saskatchewan, B.C., and Alberta, we're a family; uniting the Dene family of the world is a vision.

If any governmentthreatens Indigenous, inherent rights, the Dene Nation will be there to protect them.

Q: How will you protect the regional governments?

That will be up toour executive council.

If we are threatened, we will prepare ourselves to protect our people, the treaties, ancestral lands.

As I said earlier, if the Tlicho needs the Dene Nation, we will go with all the other regions and stand behind the Tlicho. Same with the Sahtu, Dehcho, Akaitcho,the Gwich'in and also our southern brothers.

Q: You had some of the mostforceful language about the federal and territorial governments. How do you think that helped you in the vote?

In my campaign, I said,"It's enough."

Let us now be a part of being, of building Canada.

This is our land. When is Canada and the territorial government going to understand?

I want to build a new relationship with Ottawaand the N.W.T. government.We will work with you. That doesn't mean we're going to become you.

Q: The chief's role in the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) got some criticism today. How do you imagine working with the AFN?

We have to sit down with the AFN national chiefand we need to look at what they're doing to support the Dene in the Northwest Territories.

The AFN needs to support the off-reserve funding for our communities, because right now it's being directed to the N.W.T. government, as part of the federal funding formula.

We will work with AFN, but we need to make sure that we are taken care of and that's my job as national chief.

Q: Did you get a chance to speak to the other two candidates?

I spoke to all of them andthanked them.

I greatly appreciate and honour what they stand for and what they've done. It's not an easy job to put yourself out therebecause you're vulnerable. It's risky.Sometimes it's scary.

I really appreciate them because other candidates make you a better candidate.

They're still good friends.

With files from John Last, Priscilla Hwang

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