Robert Charlie will be the new chief of the Inuvik Native Band, preliminary results suggest.
Results posted late on Thursday show Charlie defeated rival Robert Ross by 60 votes to 41.
Charlie, a residential school survivor, is the former director of Gwich’in services for the Gwich’in Tribal Council.
His job at the council was reportedly cut last fall owing to budget shortfalls.
He is also a former chair of the Gwich’in Renewable Resource Board.
The Inuvik Native Band’s former chief, Lawrence Neyando, stepped down from the position last August citing concerns about his ability to perform the role effectively given an increased workload at his full-time place of work.