Doug White III will be seeking re-election for the office of chief in the upcoming Snuneymuxw First Nation elections.
White, who will be running against current councillor John Wesley, said there were a range of issues that were critical for the Snuneymuxw heading into the Dec. 7 election.
Wesley has held the position of chief in the past and was reached for comment but had not responded in time for press.
“We’re in the middle of implementing the reconciliation agreements, the quadrupling of the land base of Snuneymuxw, and that land transfer should happen sometime, early in the new year – the [890 hectares] of forest lands – and implementing all of that can be a lot of work and will require a lot of time and focus,” White said.
He said there is a broken relationship with Nanaimo school district and the education of Snuneymuxw children and ensuring they have the greatest opportunities is one of the First Nations government’s highest imperatives and there is a lot of work to be done on that issue.
Trying to find ways to strengthen the nation by creating individual opportunities for people and looking for ways to create revenue for the nation were also issues.
Along with chief, five councillors will also be elected and current councillors seeking re-election include William Yoachim, Doug White II, Michael Wyse, Paul Wyse-Seward and James Seward.
Also seeking councillor positions will be Richard G. White, Wesley Wyse, Anthony Wyse, Erralyn Thomas, Max Settler, Regan Seward, Julie Rice-Wyse, Tina Manson, Geraldine Manson, Gary Manson, Thomas Jones, Allan J.J. Johnny, Darren Good and Joan (Wyse) Brown.
Although he’s running for chief, John Wesley won’t be up for re-election as a councillor until 2015 as elections are staggered. Karen Ahenakew, Sandra Good, Emmy Manson and Eric Wesley will also remain as councillors until 2015.