Newly elected chief says he’s disqualified for owing First Nation money

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – The winner of the election for chief of a northern Saskatchewan band has been disqualified.

A release from an administrator with the Sturgeon Lake First Nation says chief candidate Henry Felix was disqualified because he owes money to the band.

The band says it is recognizing Craig Bighead as the winner of the vote on March 27.

Felix held a news conference in Prince Albert on Tuesday, saying his disqualification happened two days after the polls had closed.

He also said he got 325 votes, well ahead of Bighead, who finished in second spot with 283 votes.

Felix said he believes officials could not live with the fact he won, and they took steps to disqualify him.

Felix refused to take any questions, but his brother, A.J. Felix, said his doesn’t believe the election was valid due to widespread voting irregularities.

He acknowledged his brother does owe some money, but he said it’s not to the band, it’s to the court.

He also claimed propaganda literature was disseminated during the voting process, which is against the rules.