New chief of Pedzéh Kı̨ First Nation in N.W.T. says jobs top his to-do list

Jesse Nekeneyia-Moses, also known as Jamie Moses, has been named chief of Pedzéh Kı̨ First Nation in the N.W.T.

Moses, 43, received 21 votes, defeating outgoing chief Lloyd Joseph Moses who received 13 votes. Other candidates included former chief D'Arcy Moses, who received five votes, and Craig Cli, who earned four.

Moses told CBC Trail's End host Lawrence Nayally, who is from the community, that he's been getting requests from people in Pedzéh Kı̨ to run since he was a young man, but his employment in the mining and oil industries kept him too busy.

"I think people just wanted to see some change," Moses said. "And then they just kept asking me, so I thought I could make that change with the right team of councillors."

Moses said one of his main priorities will be securing economic opportunities for the community, something he believes would contribute to the health and happiness of band members.

He said he wants to see surrounding lands used to their full potential, and teased a potato-growing operation and the construction of a golf course.

"We have all this lumber here too," he said. "We have a little saw mill here we can utilize for construction projects."

Moses also expressed his support for the long-proposed Mackenzie Valley Highway expansion from Wrigley to Norman Wells, N.W.T.

"I think we can benefit from it, it'll open up the North, and give our neighbours [Norman Wells] a little break there," he said.

"We can hopefully maximize on the construction phase, and make some money and hopefully maximize our benefits from that."

The First Nation's new council consists of Albert Clille, Freddie Lennie, Jenssen Clille, Jason Horesay, Nicole Hardisty and David Moses.