Terry Teegee was the landslide winner in Friday's Carrier Sekani Tribal Council election, gathering 415 votes to defeat his election opponent, Valerie O'Connal, who had 120 votes.
After serving one three-year term as vice-chief, Teegee succeeds David Luggi, who declined to run for office again after six years as chief. Teegee, 41, is a registered professional forester who graduated UNBC with a forestry degree in 2005. A member of the Takla Lake First Nation, he grew up in Fort St. James and attended Fort St. James secondary school.
"I'm very excited and elated that our people put their confidence behind me to elect me," said Teegee, who moves up from the vice-chief position.
"The last three years working with David, he's really guided me and left a foundation that I can work upon."
Dolly Abraham, also of Takla Landing, was acclaimed as vice-chief, marking what Luggi jokingly referred to as the beginning of the "Takla dynasty." It's the first time in CSTC history all executives are from the same community. Teegee is the first Takla member to be elected to the executive.
"There wasn't any doubt Terry was going to win," said Luggi. "I have every confidence the newly-elected tribal chief will represent us very well.
"He's got the technical skills as a registered professional forester and with his own nation he's been engaged in developing a sawmill manufacturing plant with Tl'azt'en and Nak'azdl."
Teegee and Abraham will represent eight member nations including: Nadleh Whut'en First Nation (Fraser Lake and Fort Fraser), Nak'azdli First Nation (Fort St. James), Stellat'en First Nation (Fraser Lake), Saik'uz First Nation (Vanderhoof), Takla Lake First Nation (Takla Lake), Tl'azt'en Nation (Stuart Lake and Tachie), Ts'il Kaz Koh (Burns Lake), and Wet'suwet'en First Nation (Burns Lake and Broman Lake).
As spokeperson for the Carrier Sekani, Teegee will be expected to stay current in representing his people during the development of several the natural resource megaprojects that will affect the Carrier Sekani's traditional territory, including Enbridge's proposed Northern Gateway pipeline project.
"I think we have to be prepared in knowing what our next steps will be and more than likely that will be litigation," said Teegee, who utilizes social media like Facebook and Twitter to communicate with his people. "All indications are, with Harper's Conservative government changing laws on the environment and fisheries and oceans with the Bill C-38 budget bill, they're going to try to get this approved.
"It's been a fight for the last six years and I really think it will continue on. I think it's going to be a long fight."
Teegee will also be overseeing the $6 billion Apache Pipeline Products liquid natural gas pipeline from Summit Lake (north of Prince George) to Kitimat as Apache tries to find a buyer for its product. He'll also have input in Trans Canada Pipeline's $12 billion liquid natural gas pipeline from Dawson Creek to Kitimat.
Also on Teegee's plate will be helping to create job opportunities for First Nations workers on mining and forestry projects. He will also be watching the Rio Tinto Alcan water license issue. As an amendment to its 62-year-old license, Alcan plans to construct a backup to its original tunnel to access water from the Nechako River to the Kemano reservoir and hydro power plant, which supplies electricity to the company's aluminum smelter in Kitimat.
"Finding training for our people, it's really important thing to continue on with that for our society," said Teegee. "The CFTC has been a real catalyst for bigger things than just the tribal council --the beginning of the First Nations Forestry Council, and the [First Nations] Energy and Mining Council.
"There's always been an issue with development in general and we really have to get a handle on it. Essentially, what we need is a land use plan and that will be the biggest thing we have to tackle.
"I want to give a voice to all our people. We have missing and murdered women as well as the issues of our children being apprehended. There's a lot that needs addressing."
