Nellie Cournoyea Elected IRC Chair and CEO

INUVIK, NT (January 25, 2010) - Nellie Cournoyea (Tuktoyaktuk) is the returning Chair and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC). She received more votes than Eddie T. Dillon (Tuktoyaktuk) and Richard McLeod (Inuvik).

Nellie J. Cournoyea ...........37 votes
Eddie T. Dillon ................... 5 votes
Richard McLeod ................ 0 vote

The election of the IRC Chair and CEO was held today in each of the Community Corporations (Aklavik, Inuvik, Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour, Tuktoyaktuk and Ulukhaktok). The 42 directors of the Community Corporations voted in this election.

Ms. Cournoyea was first elected as Chair and CEO of IRC in January 1996. This will be her eighth term. She is the former premier of the Northwest Territories and one of the original negotiators and signatories of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement.

The Chair and CEO of IRC is elected for a three-year term and has the responsibility of administering the benefits received by the Inuvialuit under the Inuvialuit Final Agreement.