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6TuesdayJuly232013ByRENEFRANCOEURLastweekselectionsinFortProvidenceandFortGoodHoperesultedinonere-elec-tionandonenewface.TheDehGahGotieFirstNationmembershipinFortProvidencevotedinJoachimBonnetrougeagainonJuly16forthenexttwoyears.Bonnetrougebeatouttheoppositionallformerchiefsthemselveswithatotalof117votes.ElectionswrapupinFortProvidenceFortGoodHopeBernadetteLandrylanded102followedbyWayneSa-bourinat69andGregoryNyuliwith48.ThreenewcouncillorswerealsoelectedSamuelGarganXavierCanadienandEddieGargan.Return-ingcouncillorsareJimThomMichaelVanDellTrishaBonnetrougeandVictorConstant.AccordingtoBonne-trouge337membersvoted41percentofregisteredvoters.Bonnetrouge66hasbeenchiefmultipletimessince1976.Hesaidhesbeenwork-ingwiththebandsincehewas24.Overthenext24monthshesaidhelooksforwardtoworkingmorewithyouthpreservingAboriginallan-guageandfocusingoneco-nomicopportunities.LackofemploymenthasbeenaprobleminourcommunityhetoldTheJournal.Wewanttokeepworkingonpreservingcultureandalsolookingaroundfordifferentthingsforouryouthlikeagather-ingplace.VotersalsoheadedtothepollslastWednesdayinFortGoodHope.InatightraceGregLabou-candefeatedArthurTobacbyjusttwovoteswithacountof76.HealsoemergedvictoriousoverincumbentchiefWilfredMcNeelybyfourvotes.NewcouncillorswerealsovotedinBeverlyMa-suzumiAngelaGrand-jambeJamesCaesarJa-cintaGrandjambeandBev-erlyDrybones-McNeely.OthermembersmakingupthenewcouncilareCharlesBarnabySharonPierrotCharlesMcNeelyandRob-ertBourassa.IfeelhonouredandblessedwiththeresultandamlookingforwardtoworkingwiththiscounciloverthenexttwoyearstoserveourcommunitythebestwecanLaboucan34said.LaboucanoriginallyfromAlbertasWhitefishLakeFirstNationmovednorth11yearsagoafterhefellinlovewithhiswifeamem-beroftheKashoGotineinFortGoodHope.Heistherstchieffromoutsidethecommunity.Itsraresomeonefromoutsideisvotedinaschiefitfeelsalmostsurreal...Iwanttofocusontheyouthandtheireducationalneedsanddealwithothersocialissuesthroughsupportingmemberswithworkshopsthatdealwithissueshandeddownfromtheresidentialschoolshesaid.Laboucanhadpreviouslyworkedassenioradministra-torandbandmanagerinthecommunity.ThevoterturnoutinFortGoodHopewasthehighesteverrecorded-256outof353eligiblevotersmarkedaballot-awhopping72percent.PeoplewantedchangeandImsohappytoseethemtakinginitiativeandgettinginvolvedinthedemocraticrighttovote.TheresultwasamazingLaboucansaid.ChestFreezersAirSealingNewHomesCheckouttheEnergyEfficiencyIncentiveProgramContacttheArcticEnergyAllianceatwww.aea.nt.caorcalltollfree1-877-755-5855or867-920-3333.PoliticsFirstNationsPoliticsFirstNationsByRENEFRANCOEURChiefAndrewWanderingSpiritisreadytogettowork.ThechiefofSmithsLand-ingFirstNationwhichstrad-dlestheNorthwestTerritories-Albertaborderwassworninlastweekalongwithanewfour-personcouncilfollow-ingtheJuly2electionthatsawWanderingSpiritbeatoutformerchiefandcoun-cillorFredDaniels51to33.Thefreshlyelectedcoun-cil-DianneBenwellThaid-enePauletteAgnesCheezieandGeronimoPaulette-helditsrstofcialmeetinglastTuesday.WanderingSpiritwhoalsowonaby-electionlastfallaftertheresignationofformerchiefCheyeannePau-lettesaidheskeentocon-tinueworkingonthestrate-gicplanPaulettehadbegun.Wewanttocontinueonwiththat.Theyhadalotofgoodthingsintherehesaid.ThismeansmakingsomeamendmentstotheRe-electedSmithsLandingchiefplansforchangeelectionscodedevelopingaconstitution...Idliketoworktowardsnishingthatifwecan.Makingchangesiswhatneedstohappentobestservethemembershipinthemosttransparentandfairwayhesaid.FromwhatIveheardandwhatIveseenitssomethingthatneedstobedonetoen-surethingsthathappenedinthepastdonthappenagainlikeclosingoffloopholesWanderingSpiritsaid.Hundredsofthousandsofdollarswerefoundtobeunac-countedforina2011auditcom-missionedbySmithsLanding.Thesumwasallegedlyembez-zledbyformeremployeesandelectedrepresentatives.TheSlaveRiverisalsoafocusfortheFirstNationWanderingSpiritsaid.Councilwantstoshowmoresupportforfederalpri-vatemembersBillC-529thatwasintroducedlastmonthcallingforreinstatementoftheSlaveRiverundertheNavigableWatersProtectionActafteritandmanyotherNorthernwaterwayswerere-movedlastDecember.Thingsarelookingverypositive.Imhappywithcouncil.Therearesomenewandsomewithprevi-ousexperienceandIthinktherewillbealotofgoodideasWanderingSpiritsaid.PeopletellmeitsatoughjobbutthatIcandoitandImgratefultohavethisopportunitytoleadmypeople.PhotoReneFrancoeurSmithsLandingnewcouncilissworninlastweekatthebandofce.LefttorightThaidenePauletteGeronimoPauletteAgnesCheezieandChiefAndrewWanderingSpirit.MissingiscouncillorDianneBenwell.