Prophet River First Nation prepares for Chief and Council elections

PROPHET RIVER, B.C. — Prophet River First Nation (PRFN) has published its final lists of candidates for the positions of Chief and Council.

Shelley Chipesia, Sheree Reno, Kirk Tsakoza, and Brian Wolf will try to unseat incumbent Chief Valerie Askoty.

Askoty has served as PRFN Chief since 2021, when she defeated Tzakoza and Reno. 

She recently told Energeticcity.ca about her ambitions for a potential second term, which included nominating a board to oversee PRFN’s economic development corporation.

“It should be run as a business separate from the Nation, away from political interference,” said Askoty in an interview on July 10th. “At the end of the day, Nation members are the stakeholders.”

Two officials will be chosen from a pool of 10 candidates for the councillor positions, as Deshanna Tsakoza will not seek re-election.

Andy Calahizen, Melanie Capot-Blanc, William Capot-Blanc, Marina Hutchinson, Jacqueline Linda Reno, Jennifer Reno, Lynette Tsakoza, and Shanee Tsakoza will join current councillor Beverly Stager in the race.

Stager had the most votes of any council candidate in 2021, garnering 65 total votes.

Electronic voting for the new chief and council will begin on June 30th at 9:00 a.m., with mail-in ballots also accepted until election day on August 13th.

In-person balloting will occur at the PRFN Multiplex, located on the grounds of the First Nation, starting at 9:00 a.m. on the 13th. 

Votes can also be made at the Treaty 8 offices at 10233 100th Avenue in Fort St. John from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. the same day.

Over 75 per cent of eligible voters turned out in the 2021 election, according to Indigenous electronic voting site OneFeather.ca.

Visit PRFN’s website or Facebook page for further details.