NAN deputy chiefs elected

The new Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) executive council was rounded out in late afternoon voting for deputy chiefs, which saw one incumbent and two new faces elected.
Following the election of Harvey Yesno as new NAN Grand Chief, Les Loutit of Fort Albany, Alvin Fiddler of Muskrat Dam and Goyce Kakegamic of Keywaywin were elected as deputy grand chiefs.
The deputy grand chief election was over after the first ballot. Fiddler led the way with 39 votes, Kakegamic finished second with 34 votes and Louttit was third with 24 votes.
Teressa Hall of Attawapiskat received 17 votes and Pierre Morriseau of North Caribou Lake received 15 votes.
Louttit was the only incumbent running for deputy chief, after former deputy chiefs Terry Waboose and Mike Metatawabin ran for grand chief.
During the last term Louttit held the housing and infrastructure portfolio as well as the economic and resource development portfolio.
Fiddler spent two terms as NAN deputy grand chief before running for grand chief in 2009, an election he narrowly lost to incumbent Stan Beardy.
Kakegamic served for three terms as NAN deputy grand chief from 1997 to 2006, before stepping away from NAN politics for two terms. He is also a talented Woodland artist who studied under his brother-in-law Norval Morrisseau.
The new executive council was sworn in immediately after the election during the Keywaywin conference in Kashechewan First Nation.
The conference continues August 16 under the direction of the new executive council.