Members of the Gwichya Gwich'in Council are expressing concern after the Gwich'in Tribal Council (GTC) refused their delegation to the annual assembly and appointed its own representatives for the Gwichya SA国际影视传媒� then voted to delay installing the new grand chief.
"Notice of our delegates was sent to the GTC on July 31, 2024, and yet the GTC has decided to appoint different people, in violation of its bylaws," the Gwichya stated in an Aug. 22 news release release.
The Gwichya, based in Tsiigehtchic, say the GTC bylaws state only the designated Gwich'in organization can appoint its representatives at the assembly.
Former grand chief Ken Kyikavichik has appealed the election outcome, which he lost 614-515, according to the unofficial vote count. An internal memo obtained by NNSL Media from Jamie Koe, the CEO of the GTC, recommends that the GTC remove the declaration of grand chief-elect Frederick Blake Jr. from the assembly agenda.
"Section 23 of the GTC elections policy outlines a process to provide a report of alleged violations to the elections committee," wrote Koe. "The elections committee will review and investigate the allegations described in the report, determine the validity of the complaint, and within five days of the receipt of such report, provide a report and recommendations, based on the investigation, to the board, which shall then have an additional five days to render a final decision on such report. This process could take up to 10 days to be completed."
Koe's letter cites a GTC bylaw stating that the annual general assembly is held immediately following the election of grand chief SA国际影视传媒� originally set for Aug. 21-22 in Aklavik this year SA国际影视传媒� where the final results of the election are announced and the grand chief takes office.
He adds that the time frame does not allow for due process to take place.
Koe stated that his recommendation to change the agenda has the support of chief returning officer Arlene Hansen, who was still in Inuvik. While the motion was being discussed by the assembly, Kyikavichik declared a conflict of interest and excluded himself from the discussion.
During debate of the motion, Blake Jr. told the assembly he had not had a chance to see Kyikavichik's appeal and could not speak to it. He noted the memo recommends a review of the GTC's election bylaw.
"It's not clear why the swearing-in should be delayed because of the appeal, but that's a decision up to the assembly," Blake Jr. said. "But if the returning officer is not here then we cannot proceed with the swearing-in ceremony.
"The [chief returning officer] isn't in the community and doesn't plan to be, so it doesn't look like that option is available," he added.
He proposed the assembly be adjourned or, at minimum, table major decisions until the appeal process is concluded.
Board members voted to remove the report of the chief returning officer and the inauguration of Blake Jr.
Koe's letter goes on to describe the process followed after the board passed the vote.
Depending on what the board decides, a special general assembly could be called to confirm the election results, where the items removed from the agenda could be addressed.
Kyikavichik posted to his social media feed that he was appealing the election decision on Aug. 20, stating he believed false accusations against him influenced the results of the election. He has not publicly stated what he believes those false accusations are. NNSL Media has reached out to Kyikavichik about the specifics of his appeal, but had not received as response as of publication deadline.
Read the internal memo's and page and read the GGC's press release .
