Inuvialuit regional directors vote for chair and CEO

The election for Inuvialuit Regional Corporation chair and CEO in the Northwest Territories are taking place today.

Long-term chair Nellie Cournoyea is facing competition from two hopeful candidates. Cournoyea was first elected in 1996 and has served eight terms in office, holding the chair for 17 years in total.

She's running against Jerry Lennie Inglangasuk and Richard McLeod.

McLeod ran in the last election in 2010, but did not get any votes from the 42 directors who get to decide. The directors are elected in the 6 communities.

This process has come under criticism from people in the region who think all the beneficiaries - more than 4,000 of them - should be able choose their leader.

Social media sites have been abuzz with conversations for and against the system.

The three candidates spent the last four days in the communities at open forum meetings.

The winner could be announced as early as tonight.

The organization represents beneficiaries in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, which includes the communities of Inuvik, Paulatuk, Ulukhaktok, Sachs Harbour, Aklavik and Tuktoyaktuk, as well as beneficiaries of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement who live outside the region.