Samson Cree Nation went to the polls on Jan. 28 and re-elected Marvin Yellowbird as their chief until 2014.
Thirty-nine per cent of eligible voters made their way to the polls.
Yellowbird was declared chief by the electoral officer after the votes were counted just prior to 10 p.m.
A total of 1,552 voters cast ballots and when the numbers were tabulated, Yellowbird had 234 votes —18 more than his closest competitor, Mario Swampy.
The race featured 11 candidates and was extremely close at the top — the top five vote-getters were separated by less than 60 votes.
Samson Cree Nation elections take place in a four-week period, first for the chief and then followed by council members. The voting populace will now focus its attention on those Feb. 11 races, which typically draw more voters.
The council election promises to be interesting race as Samson Cree Nation’s strategic plan for prosperity and social revitalization hangs in the balance.
In his term as chief, Yellowbird’s priority to revitalize the Nation resulted in the establishment of the Safe Communities Task Force composed of members from all sectors of the community.
High on Chief Yellowbird’s list of priorities is the establishment of a youth centre, one of the top recommendations put forward by the Safe Communities Task Force Report.
Chief Yellowbird, who remains committed to the preservation of culture and language and to the protection of Treaty rights, seeks the continued active support of members in bringing about the desired changes during his upcoming term of office. He will also promote economic development initiatives aimed at securing employment, training and educational opportunities for the Nation’s members in his upcoming term.
Yellowbird, says he will work with all levels of government to ensure the Samson Cree Nation’s aspirations become a reality.