Chief & Council

History has show that First Nations people have always shown interest in self-governance by selecting a Chief & Council for the management of their First Nation Band affairs. All members of the Tribe made major political decisions, by voting openly at regular or emergency gatherings. The Chief & Council make the routine or non-political decisions.

Nanoose First Nation - The people of Nanoose have regular 2 year interval Chief & Council elections, recently the election was held on November 18th 2007 for 1 Chief and 4 Councillors; which saw the following people elected:

  • Chief - David Bob
  • Council - Gordon Edwards
  • Council - Barbara Barltrop
  • Council - Donna Edwards
  • Council - Lawrence Mitchell

Their term of office will be until 2009 when a new election process begins.

Chief & Council is mandated by its membership, with the vision of empowering its people, spiritually, intillectually, physically and emotionally; by providing through mutual understanding a safe, open and fair environment for its community. In their respective roles they will work together for the benefit of the Nanoose First Nation community.

Custom Election Process

Currently with the aid of Nautsa Ma:wt Tribal Council, the Nanoose First Nation are in the process of developing its own Election Code. To maintain more continuity, and to enable new council to retain the knowledge gained, they look to lengthen their terms of office and stagger the terms.

The object of this Code is to define the electoral system of the Snaw’naw’as First Nation, including the electoral and political rights of Snaw’naw’as First Nation citizens, and the organization of the Snaw’naw’as First Nation government. In the event of judicial review, this Code should be interpreted so as to provide to the electors of the Snaw’naw’as First Nation the greatest opportunity to exercise their right to vote in Snaw’naw’as First Nation elections and referendums.

 

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR OUR TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR OUR DRAFT TEMPLATE FOR THE CUSTOM ELECTION CODE

 

Nanoose First Nation Membership:

First Nation members have responsibilities and effective means of influencing Council decisions. Nanoose First Nation members that are really interested in seeing that the policies and decisions are made in their best interests and are prepared to make the effort, they must assume all or some of the following responsibilities:

  • Nominate the best possible people for the positions of Chief & Councilors
  • Vote for the people of choice not because these people are relatives or friends but because they have the ability, knowledge and fairness in making any decisions for the Nanoose First Nation membership.
  • Attending band meetings so that they will know what is going on as far as reserve matters are concerned. Also to express to Council how they feel about Nanoose First Nation matters and make the Council Account for their decisions and actions.
  • Bring matters to the attention of Council either as a delegation or as an individual.
  • Communication - upon receiving communications from the Nanoose First Nation they should review all forms i.e. website, polls, newsletters, bulletin boards etc.
  • Be willing to serve on a Committee or Council, i.e. School, Recreation, Culture, Elders, Youth for which they have special interest and for the betterment of its nation

 
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