A record number of candidates are running in the Dene chief election.
The election will take place on July 24 at the Dene Nation's National Assembly in Fort Good Hope in the Northwest Territories. Online voting began on July 14 and will run until July 24. People can also vote in person at the assembly.
Six candidates are running for the position, which also serves as Northwest Territories regional chief for the Assembly of First Nations.
This includes incumbent Chief Gerald Antoine, his predecessor Norman Yake Ula, former Tulyocho Chief George MacKenzie, Catullodice First Nation Chief April Martell, former Saftu Tribal Councillor Paulie Chinna and former Smith's Landing First Nation Chief Jerry Cheesy.
“I think most of you are familiar with most of these candidates,” Election Commissioner Kit Spence said at a press conference Monday.
Dane Nation CEO Phil Moon Sun said the number of candidates running for the position appears to be the largest ever.
“Based on our records, and I haven't looked deeply into it, we certainly have the most candidates,” he said.
The election will be held through a combination of in-person and electronic voting.
Spence said nominations for candidates opened on April 26 and closed on May 24. Seven applications were received but only six were accepted.
He said candidates need five recommenders who are active members of the Dene tribe, including two sitting chiefs, but one applicant's application was rejected because he didn't have any sitting chiefs on his list of recommendations.
Dene chieftaincy elections are delegated elections, meaning the community elects and appoints representatives who attend meetings and vote.
Delegates who cannot vote in person can vote online.
“I have conducted many First Nations elections in British Columbia using electronic voting and have found the system to be well-respected and well-used,” Spence said.
The Dene people used online voting in the 2021 Dene Nation Chief election, held in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Spence said candidates are not allowed to use Dene tribal government resources to campaign and must use their own resources.