Sharleen Gale defeated in Fort Nelson First Nation election

FORT NELSON, B.C. — Fort Nelson First Nation released the results of its election on August 21st.

In a monumental shift, only two councillors held their seats from 2022: Patricia Capot-Blanc, and Archie Harrold, who received the most votes of the 26 candidates.

The council will select a new Chief Councillor at their next meeting. 

Harrold’s 197 votes put him ahead of second-place Sally Behn, who received 49 fewer votes.  

Taylor Behn-Tsakoza, Janelle Badine, and Curtis and Kathi Dickie took the rest of the seven positions.

Incumbent Chief Councilor Sharleen Gale, who had served in positions in council for well over a decade, was soundly defeated, only receiving 89 votes.

A scathing overview of Gale’s leadership was published earlier this week, criticizing the regime’s mismanagement of the Nation’s finances.

Gale had been outspoken regarding industry development as a way to boost the FNFN’s economic muscle.  

However, an article published by the Tyee on August 20th suggested the First Nation had misappropriated funds, including $6.7 million to FN Forestry LP, which had allegedly reported no revenue.

FNFN denied the allegations made by reporter Ben Parfitt, calling the story a “hatchet job.”

Energeticcity.ca reached out to the First Nation for comment, but none was received by publication time.

Term limits for FNFN council run for two years, with the next election scheduled for August 2026.