By Dec. 2, the Liard First Nation (LFN) will have a new chief.

Chief Liard McMillan called an election late last week, reiterating his intention not to run for another term.

LFN deputy chief Jim Wolftail announced earlier last week that he would seek the leadership.

"Our people want to see social services and community healing and wellness as the top priority,” Wolftail said in a news release.

"The priority has been business development and a good job has been done, but now we must divert much more time and resources directly to social and community needs.”

Wolftail also highlighted the need to negotiate a self-government agreement with the federal government that does not include a land claim.

In his release, the deputy chief listed priorities such as reviving Kaska language and culture, and developing a pre-treatment and aftercare centre to for those suffering from addictions.

"I understand my people and their struggles with addictions,” he said.

"Through my personal experience, I am ready to lead and to give something back to our people. I want more of our members to be able to take advantage of recovery and long-term aftercare for healing right in Watson Lake,” he said in the release.

Wolftail could not be reached for further comment.

In an interview this morning, McMillan noted that he's been chief for more than a decade, and the community could be ready for a change.

But he did highlight many accomplishments under his leadership. Those include the establishment of the Liard First Nation Development Corp. and the creation of numerous business opportunities for LFN citizens.

He went on to list infrastructure improvements, improved relationships with other Kaska communities, and asserting LFN's rights as a self-government outside of the land claim process as among his leadership's achievements.

Wolftail, McMillan said, is a strong candidate for chief.

Ann Maje Raider, the executive director of the Liard Aboriginal Women's Society (LAWS), would not comment on Wolftail's decision to run, nor McMillan's decision not too.

But she did highlight the organization's concerns around transparency and government oppression in the community.

The society alleged in a release last week that the current leadership of the LFN is unaccountable and that McMillan challenges those who question his actions.

Raider explained today that the society doesn't "want to entrench this behaviour.

"We don't want to give the new council the next council the idea that this is OK,” she said.

While McMillan's leadership will come to an official end by mid-December, Raider said, his government should be accountable for the money it spent through the First Nation and its development corporation.

"These are fairly specific and serious allegations being made by basically one individual,” the chief said today.

He went on to clarify that while he decided to withdraw support from LAWS, the First Nation has not withdrawn its support from Liard aboriginal women, nor its support for ending violence against women and addressing other issues facing the community.

Raider noted that the society sent an email asking to meet with the chief following the First Nation's decision to withdraw its support, but had not heard a response.

McMillan said today he and council are still considering when and where they'd be willing to meet.

Regarding the specific financial accountability concerns Raider raised, McMillan said the First Nation has had unqualified audits for a number of years. Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) continues to fund Liard, he noted.

The First Nation meets the majority of the funding requirements, he added.

AANDC does independent audits and analysis periodically and has given the LFN an overall rating of medium to low risk, the chief said.

As for his pattern of levelling legal action against those who raise concerns, McMillan said, "I think Liard First Nation citizens and Yukon public are quite aware of the consequences of coming forward and ridiculing somebody publicly with lies and misinformation.

"If somebody wants to come forward with legitimate concerns and legitimate concerns are backed up with facts, then I have no problem responding to it.

"But when concerns come forward that are unfounded, don't have any factual information backing it up and are nothing short of lies, then yeah, definitely I would consider responding again with further litigation, and I think it's within my right as the chief of the Liard First Nation.”

McMillan will officially resign as chief on Dec. 16. The Dec. 2 election will be followed by a two-week transition period.