A delegation sent from Tsiigehtchic to the Gwich'in Tribal Council's annual general assembly was not allowed to represent the Gwichya Gwich'in Council because the Gwich'in Tribal Council does not recognize their mandate.
Following the Aug. 21-22 assembly, where delegates voted to postpone the report of the chief returning officer and the inauguration of grand chief-elect Frederick Blake Jr.,
A statement from the Gwich'in Tribal Council (GTC), provided by communications advisor Tony Devlin, stated that the GTC does not recognize the validity of the current Gwichya leadership and repeatedly informed the Gwichya delegation they would not be recognized at the assembly. The GTC has argued in an ongoing supreme court case that the Gwichya Gwich'in Council (GGC) did not conduct its election properly and had not been properly reporting spending.
"The view of GTC is that the GGC does not currently have a validly elected board of directors," reads the statement. "In the opinion of GTC, this means the GGC does not have proper authority to appoint their delegates for the annual general assembly. As such, the GTC board of directors is obligated to ensure that Gwichya participants and the community is represented at the annual general assembly.
"Additionally the validity of the 2023 GGC election is subject to challenge in the originating notice filed in the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories on June 2, 2023. As a result, the GTC does not recognize the results of the 2023 GGC election. The GTC continues to offer financial and staff support to the GGC to run an election. The GTC has additionally offered further support for finance, administration and programs to ensure Gwichya GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n participants are not negatively impacted until such time a duly elected president and directors are sworn into office."
When asked who decided who was appointed to represent the Gwichya at the 2024 annual general assembly on the GGC's behalf, Devlin said he did not know.
Mavis Clark, the last elected Gwichya president, issued a press release on Aug. 22 citing concerns the delegate list the Gwichya submitted on July 31 was ignored and the GTC appointed a group of delegates instead. Clark was suspended from serving as a director for life for alleged breaches of the code of conduct by the board of directors following an in-camera presentation during the 2023 annual general assembly in Inuvik.
At the start of this year's assembly, a majority of delegates accepted a recommendation from the GTC executive to remove the report and inauguration from the agenda. Incumbent Grand Chief Ken Kyikavichik chaired the meeting. During the discussion of the recommendation SA国际影视传媒� which Kyikavichik excused himself from due to a conflict of interest SA国际影视传媒� Blake Jr. noted the chief returning officer, Arlene Hansen, had not travelled to Aklavik for the assembly and therefore even if the board had decided differently, the inauguration could not go forward regardless.
Hansen told NNSL Media that the decision to not make the trip to Aklavik was hers.
"The election committee has five days to review, investigate and write a report," she said. "The first day was spent gathering the committee to Inuvik.
"I felt that we needed to do our job first and foremost."
The reason given for the delay in leadership transition, explained in an internal memo given to Gwich'in participants at the assembly, is because Kyikavichik is appealing the results of the election. According to the preliminary count, he lost that election 614 to 515. Kyikavichik stated on his social media he believes false accusations influenced the outcome of the election, but he has not stated what those false accusations are. NNSL Media reached out to Kyikavichik on Aug. 21 but he has refused an interview, saying NNSL is not following protocol.
At the close of the 2024 assembly, Kyikavichik grew emotional and thanked his family and friends for their support and encouragement.
"I was just so struck by the teamwork everybody had," he said, commending the organizers of the assembly. "I also would like to thank our vice-chair and president of the Nihtat Gwich'in Council, Kelly McLeod. You've been my right-hand man for the last number of years and I can't thank you enough for being there, man. I mean it and I couldn't do this job without it.
"Four years ago, I had this crazy dream to uproot myself and my wife and come back home. Try to do things for our future generations.
"We're finally getting moving again and I'd like to see that continue in the coming years. That was only made possible because my wife Tara and my family were supporting me. My family in Teet艂'it Zheh and Inuvik, you've always been there for me SA国际影视传媒� whether you agree with me or not, you've stood by me and helped us do what we've been able to achieve.
"I would just like to thank you all, how you not only do it because you're my family, but you do it because you believe in supporting leadership. Regardless of how we move forward, I would like to see that continue."
