PELLY CROSSING Andy Carville was elected Tuesday as the new grand chief of the Council of Yukon First Nations on the fifth voting ballot, after trailing in the first three.

Seconds after the announcement was made at 7:00 last night during the second day of the 25th annual general assembly in Pelly Crossing, Carville was hugged by family members and supporters.

While jubilance reigned for the 40-year-old former chief of the Carcross-Tagish First Nation, thanks and appreciation were bestowed upon the three other candidates.

Steve Smith, son of the late Elijah Smith, one of the founding fathers of the Yukon land claim process, led on the first three ballots. In a somewhat surprising twist, Carville jumped ahead on the fourth and on the fifth, cementing his future for the next three years.

'I hope and I pray that I am a good leader, that I can do you guys proud, that I can carry the integrity and honesty that this office so deserves,' Carville said in his acceptance speech.

The new grand chief reiterated his commitment to reinvigorate the council with meaningful participation by aboriginal elders and youth.

He promised to maintain an open-door policy, and to travel among the Yukon communities to get a better understanding of the issues facing the territory's aboriginal people.

As did each of the other three candidates, Carville emphasized the importance of Yukon first nations standing in a united front to build a future moulded from their vision.

'By working together, we really are going to start breathing life into our agreements, from this day on,' he said.

'We will work with them and bring them forward in a way that is conducive, in a way that the communities and people want.

'Let's make the Yukon and federal governments accountable to the agreements our first nations have entered into.'

Carville thanked his wife, Corinne, and his children, Ashley and Crystal, for supporting his decision to seek the grand chief's office, knowing the sacrifice of time away from his family that is required to do the job.

'They too believe and see the need to carry on the fight,' he told some 200 or more people gathered in the Pelly Crossing community centre to witness the election. 'I look forward to doing that on their behalf.'

The election for grand chief was brought about by the March resignation of Ed Schultz. He stepped down midway through his second term to seek the leadership of the Yukon Liberal Party. He was unsuccessful at the June 4 convention.

Chief Eric Morris of the Teslin Tlingit Council was appointed by the other Yukon chiefs to serve as acting grand chief until the election.

In an all-candidates' forum early Tuesday afternoon prior to voting, each of the four candidates was given 20 minutes to address the assembly.

The first ballot went ahead at 4:15 p.m., with the requirement that the winning candidate needed 60 per cent or 36 of the 60 ballots cast.

The 35-year-old Smith earned 29 votes on the first count, which was reported at 5 p.m., compared to 24 for Carville, five for Albert Genier of Mayo's First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun, and two for Calvin Lindstrom of the Carcross-Tagish First Nation. Lindstrom was knocked off the ballot.

In the second count, support for Smith climbed by three to 32, while Carville remained at 24 and Genier dropped to four.

With Genier off the ballot, both Smith and Carville took turns meeting informally with the five Nacho Nyak Dun delegates.

Smith continued to hold the lead when results of the third ballot were reported at 5:55 p.m., remaining at 32 but with Carville jumping by four to 28.

On the fourth ballot, however, the tide changed. Support for Smith had slipped to 27 votes while Carville jumped to 33 votes.

It was decided on the fifth, by a hair, as another three delegates left the Smith camp and gave Carville exactly the 36 votes he needed.

Though accepting of the loss, and sincere in his congratulations to Carville, the emotion of going the distance being so close was evident in Smith's eyes.

But the acting grand chief assured Smith, Genier and Lindstrom that their participation in the election was appreciated and respected.

'It was a great thing you did today,' Morris told the three. 'Your time will come.'

In an interview afterward, the new elected grand chief shared his thoughts on where his winning support came from.

'It is hard to say,' Carville said as those attending the assembly from around the Yukon, the Mackenzie Delta and northern B.C. slowly emptied the hall and prepared for a night of stick gambling, softball and other recreational events, including a boat cruise to Fort Selkirk.

'I think it came from the Gwich'in (of the Mackenzie River region), and I think the Vuntut (Gwitchin of Old Crow) had something to do with it.'

For the first time, with the recent inclusion of the three Gwich'in first nations from the Mackenzie River region as members to the council, first nations from outside the Yukon participated in the vote for grand chief.

Much of Monday and Tuesday morning were spent discussing constitutional reform for the central organization, based on eight recommendations put forward in March by the 12 members of the constitutional committee struck last September.

It was expected resolutions on the issue would be debated this morning. However, there was a feeling among delegates and onlookers that there was no urgency to make changes, that it was better to go slowly.

It was also clear that first nations are growing tired of what many describe as an ongoing battle with the Yukon and federal governments to have them live up to the terms set out in their land claim and self-government agreements.

Each of the four candidates said in his pre-election address that unity among first nations is of the utmost importance.

They each promised to work on finding a way to bring the Kwanlin Dun First Nation of Whitehorse and the two Kaska first nations of southeast Yukon back into the fold. Kwanlin Dun, the Ross River Dena Council and the Liard First Nation of Watson Lake left the central organization in 1995 because of fundamental differences with a new constitution adopted in Dawson City at the general assembly that year.

'I think there is an amazing amount of potential if we are able to sit here together and talk about the issues, and tell the government where we want to go, and what we want for our children,' Smith told the assembly.

He said there have been significant advances for Yukon first nations in the last 30 years since the land claim process began with the delivery of the document Together Today for Our Children Tomorrow to then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau.

'It is now time for us to start thinking where we are going to go over the next 30 years, for the next generation coming behind us.'

Only be standing together, said Smith, will first nations repeat the significance of the last 30 years and advance to the next level.

Genier also emphasized the importance of unity, and insisted the council must embrace the principle of consensus government.

In a system where the majority of votes wins, he said, there is always a loser.

Also a common theme among the candidates was the need to promote more youth involvement in the affairs of the day.