The Montreal Lake Cree Nation has elected its first female chief.

In an election Wednesday, Joyce Naytowhow-McLeod defeated incumbent chief Frank Roberts by 142 votes.

Eldon Henerson was re-elected urban councillor over his next closest challenger Darren Bird by 27 votes.

Ricky Bird was also elected to a vacant council seat.

A total of 861 ballots were cast in the chief election.

(PHOTO: Newly elected Montreal Lake Cree Nation Chief Joyce Naytowhow-McLeod. Submitted photo.)