Carvill wins second term as Council of Yukon First Nations grand chief

Delegates at this week's Council of Yukon First Nations general assembly voted Tuesday to stick with Andy Carvill as their grand chief.

Carvill, a member of the Carcross Tagish First Nation, won the election for grand chief late Tuesday, during the CYFN's annual assembly at Lake Laberge, Yukon. He has held the council's top job since 2005.

Carvill secured 39 votes on the second ballot to 21 votes for his closest rival, Whitehorse lawyer Victoria Fred. Brenda Jackson, a longtime council employee and first-time grand chief contender, was dropped from the ballot after trailing Fred and Carvill on the first round of voting.

"Our people are hurting," an emotional Carvill told delegates. "We got issues around health. We need to make that our top priority."

Carvill admitted to reporters that he had doubts about seeking a second three-year term. Now, he said he wants to get to work.

"I was talking to people before the election, [saying] if I get re-elected within a couple of weeks, I'm going to be calling on the chiefs to get behind closed doors, let's roll up our sleeves and let's start moving our agenda," he told reporters.

One of the council's first priorities, Carvill said, will be to establish an aboriginal healing and health treatment centre in the Yukon.

Jackson said Carvill had better pull through, noting that First Nations members feel an ownership over their elected officials "as to who they are and what they and who they hang out with and what their mandate is and their initiatives.

"If they don't do it then we're on them," Jackson said.

Fred congratulated Carvill, but also warned him that people in the communities will hold him to his promises.

Delegates return to the assembly Thursday to begin discussing how to restructure the council, which represents 11 First Nations across the Yukon and four Gwich'in councils in the Mackenzie River Delta region of the Northwest Territories.