Katzie First Nation has a new council to run its affairs for the next two years, along with a new chief.
Robin Green, Rick Bailey and Peter James were elected on March 1 and were sworn in Tuesday night. Chief Susan Miller was acclaimed in January for a two-year term, after taking on the job on an interim basis last fall, following an election.
A total of 161 votes were cast out of 260 eligible voters. Bailey took 68 votes and Robin Green won 60 votes and Peter A. James, from Barnston Island reserve, winning his first council seat, took 108 votes. James is the son of former chief Peter James. Eight people ran for the three positions.
Treaty talks with provincial and senior governments, to give the nation the ability to run its own affairs, remain stalled at Stage 4, with an agreement in principle and awaiting response from senior governments.
Soil preloading is underway in preparation for construction of the $4.3-million Katzie Health and Community Building.
According to Metro Vancouver’s Profile of First Nations, the band’s total population is 545, with 313 people living on reserve and 226 living off the reserve.