The new chief and council of the shíshálh Nation heard a lot about the need to listen to their people during a traditional ceremony at the Nation’s longhouse that saw them take office on April 1 without saying a word.
After being led into the longhouse by singers and drummers, the new council of Chief Warren Paull and councillors Alvina Paul, Corey August, Selina August and Keith Julius stood upon cedar boughs placed to bless their term while four elder speakers imparted their wisdom to the leaders.
First, elder Eugene Louie was called to speak.
“The work that you do you will vet through your people. The things that you do and put forward to your community, should be a plan that is already planned out by your community,” Louie told the new council.
“Your work is not as hard as it should be if your community’s working with you collectively. They need to provide that direction, and you carry out the direction.”
The next speaker was elder Thomas Paul, who said he was pleased to see a balance of men and women on the new council and again spoke to the need for community involvement in the Nation’s governance going forward.
“There’s so much involvement in the daily lives of the people,” Paul said.
“It’s different than being a member of a local government council on the other side. Your life is right directly with the people and that really affects the way you carry out your daily duties.”
As a former leader, Paul said he would be willing to support the chief and council if they need him in the future.
“Just come and see me,” he said.
Next Frank Dixon addressed the new leaders, urging them to ask questions of their constituents and staff and learn from them during their time in office.
“You learn from the people that surround you,” Dixon said.
“It’s like a little one. You watch a little one and that little one will teach you, but you’re still going to have to give them advice.”
Dixon said he was proud to see a relatively young council step up this term to lead the Nation and encouraged them to “make every day count.”
The final speaker to address the new council was outgoing chief Calvin Craigan, who started by commending the community for “making a wise choice.”
“I really believe that they’ve chosen a really good team,” Craigan said.
“The next few years are going to be very challenging for you, and as the other former chiefs have said, we’re here to support you.”
He noted the Nation is “stepping into a new era” of self-governance that could see traditional territories and rights returned to the shíshálh people, and that he believes the new chief and council have the energy needed to lead the Nation there.
Before concluding his remarks, Craigan said he was pleased to be handing over the reins to Paull.
“I’m happy and I’m relieved of the stress and the burden of it,” he said, laughing.
Following the speakers, the new council was honoured with a song from the Paull family before chief and council signed the paperwork necessary to officially start their three-year term.
Following the ceremony the new council posed for pictures and shook hands with the approximately 200 invited guests, who had been treated to a salmon dinner before the ceremony began.
