Sahtu

Current MLA:

Norman Yakeleya

District Profile:

The Sahtu is geographically diverse, embracing vast Great Bear Lake, several hundred kilometres of the Mackenzie River valley, and the Mackenzie Mountains, which divide N.W.T. from Yukon.

The proposed Mackenzie Valley pipeline would cut directly through this district. Norman Wells (pop. 761), an oil drilling and refining centre founded in the 1930s, remains the area's transportation and supply hub. It is the only predominantly non-aboriginal community in the region.

Déline (pop. 525) and tiny Colville Lake (pop. 126) are traditional Dene villages. Tulita (pop. 505) and Fort Good Hope (pop. 557) are also predominantly Dene, and are rooted in hunting, fishing and trapping. The latter community is home to former N.W.T. premier Stephen Kakfwi.

Political History:

Norman Yakeleya was acclaimed for a second term in 2007. The retirement in 2003 of Kakfwi, who had served in the N.W.T. assembly since 1987, threw the Sahtu vote wide open.

Five candidates vied for the seat that year, with former Tulita Dene chief Norman Yakeleya coming out on top with 45.59 per cent of the popular vote. While Kakfwi was in office, he had handily defeated political newcomers from both Norman Wells and Déline.

Voter turnout has been low to moderate.

2007 voter turnout:

Acclamation

Candidates

Rocky E. Norwegian	PO Box 149	Tulita	X0E 0K0
Norman Yakeleya	PO Box 125	Tulita	X0E 0K0