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Members of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation will head to the polls this month to elect a chief in Ndilo. 

Advance polls open Aug. 8 and election day is Aug. 18.

SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½ contacted each candidate with a list of questions. These are Fred Sangris' responses.

1) What made you decide to seek re-election?

I was asked by members of both communities. People visited me and wanted me to run again, so I thought about it and I said "OK." I've got a lot of support yet, so I can probably run for a fourth time.

2) What sort of experience do you bring to the table?

I was chief off and on over several years. I've been on the land for many years. I know the history of the Yellownknives Dene and the treaties, and the stories of the old people. My dad was chief, my uncle was chief and my cousins were chief, so naturally I have a lot of experience in this area. I work with the people like my forefathers and people have a lot of trust in me running again.

3) What do you see as the big issues this election?

Since the 1950s, the Yellowknives Dene have put their head up trying to approach the world to recognize them through their treaty. YKDFN made a treaty with the Crown in July 1900 and they would like the Crown to continue to honour the rights of Indigenous peoples and work with them to resolve outstanding issues. One of them is the Tlicho Treaty Agreement, which is moving towards an agreement-in-principle. There are longstanding grievances, one of them is 'cows and plows' that has not been offered to YKDFN. Many First Nations have applied for it, and we have applied for it as well. Then there's past compensations and apologies for what happened in the surrounding areas where we live. Our life depends on clean water, clean land, wildlife and so on, but things have been done in the past, so we're trying to work with Canada to get an apology and compensation to the First Nation.

4) How do you propose to deal with those issues?

The best way to deal with it is with Canada. For the longest time, my forefathers, who were leaders in the 1950, '60s, '70s, met with the prime ministers. Today, as First Nation leadership, we still have connection to Canada. So there is a lot of negotiations with Canada that still have to happen. We as a First Nation want to go on with our lives, but there's some things that need to be cleared up. That's where we work with Canada, the GNWT and sometimes municipal governments to work on reconciliation so we can have a stronger and better relationship in the future.

5) What does it mean to you to be a Yellowknives Dene?

I am proud for sure. My great-great-grandfather was chief of the Copper Mine River. Leadership runs in my family. I am very proud to be a Yellowknives Dene and Indigenous person in this global world. We have a long ways to go, but I am very, very proud.

6) What will be your top priorities if elected?

Top priorities will be to start to work with communities of First Nations SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½” work with the councillors and chiefs and other First Nation governments and organizations and build a platform for a good relationship. We are still young. Although we are a very strong, healthy and sovereign First Nation, we still have to push ahead to make things better, improving administration and governance work, programs and services. Also work with our membership to make things better for them, including housing and economic opportunities.

7) Anything else you would like to add?

I'm running for the fourth time, I was a community negotiator and I'm also a traditional knowledge-keeper. I have a strong relationship to land, wildlife and politics. I hope to do really good for the First Nation's future.