Former NDP MLA Norma Kassi is the new chief for Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation after defeating challengers Garry Nijootli and Kenny Tetlichi in the Vuntut Gwitchin's election for chief and council Monday.

Kassi, who garnered 101 votes for the win, compared to Nijootli's 76 and Tetlichi's 50, will officially take over the reins of the First Nation in mid-January from Chief Joe Linklater.

After three terms and 12 years at the Vuntut Gwitchin's helm, Linklater announced at summer's end that he was stepping down.

Kassi said she's confident in her abilities garnered as Old Crow's representative in the Yukon legislative assembly – from 1985 to 1992 – will bode well in her new role.

"I have some experience from the past in being in leadership for our community,” Kassi told the Star early this afternoon. "And this is a major government to take over, and it requires a substantial amount of experience.”

Kassi said that with the foundation of the Vuntut Gwitchin's government in place, she and the new council can focus on community development.

"Maybe that's through micro-enterprises ... and small businesses. Right now there's a restaurant in the works that'll probably need some support,” Kassi said.

A community-owned grocery store is another idea, said Kassi, aimed at keeping money in the small, isolated community of 235 residents.

Joining Kassi on the new council are Margaret Smith and another former NDP MLA, Lorraine Netro.

Both were acclaimed as councillors, and now the Vuntut Gwitchin elders' council will be charged with appointing two additional councillors to fill out the ranks.

Tetlichi was a councillor in the former regime, but Kassi said neither he, nor Nijootli indicated interest in joining the new council.

"They haven't expressed that to me and they did well in the campaign,” Kassi said. "But all that will be left up to the elders.”

Linklater said he is satisfied with what he accomplished as the Vuntut Gwitchin's leader, including "getting our finances back in order and land use planning was another big part.”

The North Yukon Land Use Plan, which encompasses all 50,000 square kilometres of Vuntut Gwitchin traditional territory – the first of seven plans mandated by the 1993 Umbrella Final Agreement – was completed in June 2009 under Linklater's watch.

The Vuntut Gwitchin are among the four First Nations in the Yukon who first inked a land claim and self-government agreement with the federal government. The Vuntut Gwitchin signed the deal in 1993 and it came into force two years later.

While Linklater will continue his duties as chair of the Gwich'in Council International, he is making few commitments except to end speculation that he would run in the next territorial election under the Yukon Party's banner.

"I don't know how that rumour started,” Linklater said.