Appeals filed into re-election of Salt River chief

The re-election of Frieda Martselos as chief of the Salt River First Nation in Fort Smith, N.W.T., is being challenged by several people, including her rival.

The band's electoral officer has confirmed to CBC News that several appeals have been filed, but would not specify the number of appeals or who filed them.

Dave Poitras, who ran against Martselos in the Aug. 25 band election, said he hopes to hear by the end of this week whether or not his appeal will go ahead.

The appeals are before an arbitrator, who has to determine if the complaints are legitimate.

Martselos's re-election and now the appeals of that election is the latest in a lengthy battle for leadership at the First Nation.

Since being first elected chief in April 2007, Martselos has been in a legalfight with her band council, which fired her a week after she was elected.

A Federal Court judge quashed the council's firing of Martselos earlier this year. The council is appealingthat decision.