SA国际影视传媒

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.

SA国际影视传媒 contacted each candidate with a list of questions. These are Shirley Tsetta's responses.

1) What made you decide to run for chief?

I have strong background knowledge and wisdom in working with the communities, industry and other Indigenous governments and territorial/federal governments. I always speak up for Indigenous rights and look for partnerships with outside organizations or government on how our community members can benefit from various socio-economic opportunities. I intend to protect our treaty for SA国际影视传媒渁s long as the sun shines, the grass grows and rivers flow.SA国际影视传媒� I plan to work with our leadership and membership on how to move our treaty land entitlement to the next and final stage. 

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

I previously served three consecutive terms as a Ndilo councillor for the Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN). I worked many years of experience implementing the impact benefit agreement and socio-economic agreements as a community liaison officer to advocate for Indigenous peoples in terms of employment, training and business opportunities. I served as a chairperson and secretary-treasurer on numerous boards, such as the Akaitcho Business Development Corporation, Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers, Native WomenSA国际影视传媒檚 Association of the NWT, Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority and Diavik Communities Advisory Board. I have two Aurora College diplomas in management studies and social worker program. I also worked as a treaty entitlement coordinator and reported to the YKDFN membership, the Akaitcho chiefs and Akaitcho negotiator.

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

-accountability and Transparency

-Akaitcho governance structure

-youth support programs

-education, child welfare, substance abuse, language

-homeownership and home improvement programs

-employment and business opportunities

-support hunters, trappers and harvesters' activities 

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

-I propose providing quarterly newsletters or webpage updates on council meetings and activities.

-Council must work with the youth to address their needs and develop a workplan to implement their ideas.

-Council must develop a policy to help members become homeowners and to help them with home repair programs.

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

I was born and raised in Ndilo and my parents are from the Crapeau, Abel and Tsetta families. I grew up in a traditional household with my parents living off the land as hunters, trappers and gatherers, and they practised their traditional culture, language and customs daily. I grew up as Treaty 8 Dene and continue to practise our way of life through drum songs, cultural ceremony and language. We must protect our caribou, and our right to hunt and harvest.

6) What will be your top priorities, if elected?

If elected, I will work with our Elders, community members and council to finalize the Akaitcho Agreement and keep the members informed about our progress. Before YKDFN can agree to the final Akaitcho Agreement, YKDFN must negotiate with Lutsel KSA国际影视传媒檈 and Deninu Kue on the governance structure and jurisdictional boundaries between the communities. YKDFN must consider holding a referendum to invite the membership to vote on whether YKDFN go in a new direction or continue negotiating as is. This is a very important topic to consider. 

7) Anything else you would like to add?

My concern is that the federal government is negotiating with the YKDFN using the 1990 Dene/Metis comprehensive SA国际影视传媒渞egional approachSA国际影视传媒� as with other NWT regions, and [we're] being forced into a resource management agreement that is compatible with the rest of the NWT management act. I believe the YKDFN want to negotiate using the treaty land entitlement approach and to negotiate a separate resource management regime.

The other concern is the NWT Metis Nation agreement-in-principle being finalized while YKDFN are still negotiating their Akaitcho Agreement SA国际影视传媒� and the huge conflict caused by overlapping land rights, resource management and third-party interest. I would be honoured to represent the YKDFN membership at the main table negotiations, and I will do my utmost to advocate for YKDFN as effectively as possible.

I will be at the candidates forum in Ndilo on Aug. 6 to answer questions in more detail.