Splatsin First Nation elects new Chief
The Spaltsin First Nation has a new chief.
Former band councillor Doug Thomas narrowly won the election by just five votes taking the top position from incumbent Kukpi7 (Chief) Wayne Christian.
Thomas was elected Kukpi7 with 89 votes. Christian, who had been the First Nation's Chief for multiple terms, took second place with 84 votes. Lawrence Williams came in third with 49 votes.
"To be elected Kukpi7 is an honour," Thomas said in a Spaltsin media release. "We have a lot of work ahead of us to improve all of our lives. We can work together not only as a newly elected Chief and Council but as a community."
Christian had served seven consecutive terms as Kukpi7 going back almost twenty years. According to a Splatsin media release, Christian's political career with the band goes back to 1980.
"Continuing Truth and Reconciliation initiatives is a key element in overcoming prejudice and racism that many of our people face. Getting our history into the mainstream realm is a must. Another goal is to get our people engaged by listening and acting on their words as many of them have given up on the system. We need to adapt to new ways of engagement and merge with our traditional ways of living," Thomas said.
Thomas has a diploma in business and spend 30 years working in the IT industry.
Incumbent councillor Teresa Williams retook her seat with newcomers Leonard Edwards, Loretta Eustache, Beverly Thomas and Sabrina Vergata taking the remaining council seats.
There will be a swearing-in ceremony at 1 p.m. today, Jan. 11, although to due the COVID pandemic the event will not be open to the public and instead will be streamed live on the band's Facebook page here.
— This story was corrected at 2:11 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022, to remove a reference to the Spaltsin First Nation as being in the North Okanagan.
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