Carrier Sekani Tribal Chief elections underway

Mar 11, 2019 | 4:46 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council has announced the three candidates running for Tribal Chief. The election takes place March 21 this year. The Tribal Council provides political and technical support to seven First Nations west of Prince George. It’s overseen by seven directors, who are the chiefs from the member nations, and the elected Tribal Chief. Elections take place every three years, and this year, all of the candidates are women… something members say hasn’t happened before.

Mary Teegee is from Takla Lake First Nation. She is the Executive Director of Family Services at Carrier Sekani Family Services, she is on the national committee for child welfare reform, and has been involved in the inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. She is an advocate for transportation between communities and health and safety. Those are just a few of the social issues she says she’s passionate about. 

Mina Holmes is from Tl’azt’en Nation. She is the Reconciliation Table manager with the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council and has worked in various First Nations communities around BC. Holmes has a degree in law and education which is something she says she takes great pride in as she completed that as a single parent. She believes the economic success and health of people in the region are equally important. 

Kathaleigh George is from Takla Lake First Nation and comes from a long line of hereditary chiefs. She says her priority is bringing unity back to the communities across the region. She says she wants to stand up for the people rather than make a name for herself as a politician. She is passionate about her culture, spirituality, and continuing her fathers work to preserve oral history.