The Yukon's longest-serving chief was re-elected Friday in a landslide victory.

Chief Eddie Skookum of the Little Salmon-Carmacks First Nation was returned to a third consecutive, four-year term in office with 208 votes compared to 98 for Mike Vance, the only other candidate for chief.

Skookum said today citizens of the first nation want the council to focus on beating down the drug and alcohol problem, settling the new school issue, promotion of language and culture, child welfare and investigating impacts that will arise from oil and gas activity, among other issues.

Of the most pressing is the fight between the partnership of the first nation and the community of Carmacks, standing against the territorial government's insistence that the new elementary school include a Yukon College campus, he explained.

'We would really appreciate some kind of phone call or a letter to indicate there should be a meeting,' said Skookum. He suggested too much time has been already wasted and it's time to get on with the issue. Education Minister John Edzerza indicated in late December he would not meet with the first nation until after the election.

Both incumbent councillors representing the Crow clan were defeated in a six-way race, though the only Wolf councillor to seek re-election was successful.

For the two Crow clan positions, the results were: George Skookum, 128; Terry Billy, 128; incumbent Joseph O'Brien, 102; Sheila Garvis, 89; incumbent Shirley Bellmore, 64; and Bella Bresse, 56.

Results for the two Wolf position were: Darlene Johnson, 220; incumbent Mary Tulk, 190; and Elma Wrixon, 134. Incumbent Wolf Coun. Mike Cashin did not seek re-election.

Elections for the position of youth councillor and elder councillor, both full voting councillor members, are being held today.

Skookum said there has been a significant push in the community to deal with the problems of alcohol and drug abuse.

'We want to make sure we hit it full force,' he said, noting the first nation members are particularly focused on stopping the sale of drugs like crack cocaine.

The chief said the first nation will be working with the RCMP on the matter.

He said it's his desire to see his first nations young Northern Tutchone dancers on the marquee for the 2007 Canada Winter Games.

The protection and promotion of language and culture, he said, have also been emphasized as key elements because they are essential to the health and very existence of the first nation.

Skookum said the health of the land is also of the utmost importance, as it too must be protected for future generations.

To that end, he said, the first nation is planning to send a team of anti- and pro-development members down to the oil patch in northern B.C. to have a first-hand look at what type of impacts can be expected from oil and gas activity.

'Our land is our number one asset,' he said. 'I always believe economic development is of vital importance but should not come at cost to the land.'

The veteran chief said education and training are essential to create job opportunities and lessen the dependance on social assistance.

There is currently, for instance, a carpentry training course underway that's scheduled to finish when construction of the new school is supposed to start later this year, he pointed out.

Also on Skookum's agenda is his desire to promote more foster homes for the community, and a better line of communications with the government's child welfare system to do whatever possible to make sure children taken from their Carmacks home remain in the community or in Whitehorse, at the very least.