Prophet River First Nation Chief Valerie Ashkoty reflects on term, seeks re-election

PROPHET RIVER, B.C. — Members of Prophet River First Nation (PRFN) will have the opportunity to nominate candidates for a new council next week.

A notice of election was issued in June, with a nomination meeting scheduled for Monday evening on PRFN grounds. 

Nearing the end of her term as PRFN Chief, Valerie Ashkoty spoke to energeticcity.ca about the

trials and tribulations during her three-year mandate, being elected in 2021.

She says was pleased at the progress she made with the council, which includes Beverly Stager and Deshanna Tsakoza.

“We’ve worked very well together,” said Ashkoty, adding she will seek re-election. “We’ve accomplished a lot, but there are still many things to continue working on.”

“If I could sum up my term in one word, it would be learning. It was certainly a learning experience.”

Ashkoty noted that a significant part of her mandate was the contributions PRFN made in establishing a code of ethics surrounding financial administrative law, which governs council members’ financial reporting.

According to Ashkoty, this makes those elected officials “more accountable.”

“We’re really focused on the policies and procedures surrounding it,” said Ashkoty. “So we as a council can help run the Nation.”

One of the significant challenges, said Ashkoty, was piecing together the economic development department of PRFN, something Ashkoty adds that the “bones” are there to build upon.

In putting the wheels in motion surrounding that development, the Chief says she has sought assistance from other First Nations as a template.

This included consulting with the Osoyoos Nation in Osoyoos, B.C., and the Tsuu’tina Nation outside of Calgary. 

“We need to look at developing a board of directors for the corporate structure,” said Ashkoty. “[That will] help council become less involved and keep economic business separate from the Nation.”

“This way, it can be run as a business separate from the Nation, away from political interference. At the end of the day, Nation members are the stakeholders.”

Going forward, Ashkoty hopes her second term will include Additions to Reserve (ATR) for the members of PRFN, including an Urban Reserve Site in Fort St. John, first signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the city in 2022. 

The land will be across from Robert Ogilvie School, located at 9906 86th Street. PRFN has been working on its ATR processes since 2008. 

Ashkoty says once the ATR processes are finished, they can start developing.

Anyone who is a member of PRFN and at least 18 years of age can be nominated or second an individual looking to be a candidate for Council or Chief.

Nominees should be able to pass the band’s election code, a list of rules and regulations, in order to qualify. 

Nominations will commence during the meeting on July 15th, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Prophet River Multiplex, with a deadline for nominations to be selected by July 17th.