New Blueberry River First Nations chief outlines goals since election

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The new chief of a northeast B.C. First Nation wants to cater to the needs of the many in her community, not just the few.

Sherry Dominic was elected chief of Blueberry River First Nations (BRFN) in January after two decades as a councillor beginning in 2006.

She told Energeticcity.ca she was unsure about vying for BRFN’s top job, however, her connection with her roots with BRFN and seeing the nation heal after what she described as “turmoil” in the council prompted her to come back.

“I grew up there,” said Dominic. “I have lived in different places, but the community was the one that [was] always close to my heart.

“For the last six months, I was thinking, ‘should I just quit?’ I want to do something else. But then I think, ‘what am I going to do?’ My children are growing and I will be at home. So [I thought,] ‘why not just run for chief?’” 

Since 2017, BRFN’s election code has seen the nation run by five councillors, each representing its prominent families.

Nominations then come forward by council for chief, which the council then elects. 

With each term lasting four years, Dominic represented the family of the late Pete Davis. She told Energeticcity.ca she was encouraged each election cycle to “run again” by family members.

BRFN’s last administration was surrounded with controversy, with an independent investigation on previous chief Judy Desjarlais ruling she had violated the nation’s by-laws by reviewing permit applications and unilaterally advising the BC Energy Regulator of exceptions to allow work on traditional lands without consulting or obtaining the required approval.

Desjarlais was removed by council in September 2024, and she responded by launching a federal judicial review case into the matter. 

The review found her removal was “fair and reasonable” in January 2026. However, Dominic insists there was “no infighting” among the other councillors, which included Troy Wolf, Wayne Yahey and Shelley Gauthier.

Meanwhile, a separate judicial review filed by BRFN elders Clarence and Joe Apsassin was granted in part, with the judge stating the council had violated nation by-laws and council was “required to consult with and represent the views of Blueberry’s members, including family groups and elders, in advance of making major decisions.”

Dominic said: “When we all got in for the first six months, we were working together. We were involved in certain meetings and with industry. Then, all of a sudden, that slid off to the side.”

Immediately after her election, Dominic had to deal with another event: a fire brought the multi-usage school building in the community to rubble. 

A statement from BRFN said it would rebuild. She says the recovery is currently an ongoing process.

“Right now we are just going through the insurance process,” said Dominic. “There is also the cleanup process, such as making sure you don’t have asbestos in the building.”

As it currently stands, Dominic would like to move forward now she is the BRFN chief. Her goals include dealing with what she says is an addiction pandemic within the community, as well as the nation’s comprehensive community plan (CCP).

She says currently, eight nation members are currently in rehabilitation elsewhere, and she would like to bring them closer to home – citing the North Wind Wellness Centre in Dawson Creek as a possible destination.

“[The CCP is] in draft form, but when it comes back up, then the new building [is] going to be one of the things [we ask about],” said Dominic. “What do you want to see? [Such as] a community complex or an elders complex. We are giving that power back to the members.

“The [drug crisis] is everywhere. Attending meetings and talking to other leaders from the communities across Canada, [we are] losing our young people to drugs and alcohol. The cities go through it. We are facing the same thing.”

While Dominic says she “was not surprised” she won her election, she is still a little taken back by being addressed as chief.

“My cousin this morning, I had a meeting with him and he said, ‘chief,’” said Dominic. “That just sounds so weird. I’m used to everybody calling me Sherry.”