Ahead of the Feb. 3 shíshálh Nation hihewus (councillor) byelection, Coast Reporter reached out to each of the five candidates.
Contact: [email protected]
Introduce yourself, What is your experience / background?
My name is tituya, aka Keith Julius, born in kalpalin (Pender Harbour) on Oct. 24, 1960, in the old hospital in Garden Bay that is now a restaurant.
If elected into office by my shíshálh people this will be my fifth term in office, my grandfather Ernie Joe was one of our first council members elected into office and my grandmother Mary Joe August was the first woman elected into office for the shíshálh people.
At present I drive an off-road cat 775 gravel mine truck for Tsain-Ko Development Corporation.
Why are you running for election?
I am running for office because it is something that I enjoy and love very much working for the shíshálh Nation. I have done it in other capacities: fishery field technician, Insitu archeology field assistant, public works labourer, school bus driver for our Momaymon, Kinniknick and Chatelech schools, again, I loved it and always will.
What are some concerns you have heard from the community?
Priorities from listening to my shíshálh people are, language and culture, affordable housing, economic development, health and wellbeing and the homeless. There are many, but these are a few that sit at the top.
There are concerns within the shíshálh swiya/Sunshine Coast that need to be addressed by all local governments: District of Sechelt, Town of Gibsons, shíshálh Nation and B.C., which is very concerning to me and that is illegal drugs.
shíshálh land reclaim is very dear to my heart and needs attention.
Jordan Copp is the Coast Reporter’s civic and Indigenous affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
