Lelu Island could play major role in Lax Kw'alaams election this November

A swirl of events over the last few days on the topic of Lelu Island may provide for much of the narrative to come when residents of Lax Kw'alaams begin the nomination process for the First Nation Community Council and school trustee election set to take place on November 19th.

The election process for the Lax Kw'alaams Community will get under way on October first when the nomination period begins.

Until October 8th electors residing on or off the reserve will have the opportunity to put their name into consideration as a candidate for the position of Mayor, Council or Trustee.

The notice of nomination period was posted to the Lax Kw'alaams website earlier this month.

Since that September 4th notification, events related to the proposed LNG Terminal at Lelu Island have tended to dominate much of the discussion from the First Nation community.

Most recently, a number of members of the community have set up what has been called an occupation camp on the island to practice their aboriginal rights at title on the land at Lelu Island.

Late last week, the Lax Kw'alaams First Nation announced that it was preparing to secure title action on Lelu Island and the Flora Bank area, included in the information provided to their residents was the approach that the Lax Kw'alaams First Nation is taking on that issue.

As well, in an update to community members, the Lax Kw'alaams Council outlined some of its disappointment in recent developments involving other members of the Tsimshian community in the region, something which one of those communities responded to late on Friday afternoon.

The Lelu Island issue is not the only topic that could play a role in the upcoming vote, in recent months there have been some members of the community that have expressed their discontent with the way that the current Mayor and Council have addressed a number of community concerns.

Something which could provide for a fairly interesting mix of potential candidates once the nomination period comes to an end on October 8th. The list of approved candidates will be posted at the Lax Kw'alaams Band Office on October 9th.

Lax Kw'alaams voters will head to the polls on November 19th, they will be electing 1 Mayor, 12 Councillor and 5 trustees for a four year term.

There will be two polling stations available for those wishing to vote, on a the Lax Kw'alaams Community Fire Department Hall, while those in the Prince Rupert area can vote at the Lax Kw'alaams Office at 100 1st Avenue East.

Our archive page features some of the past items of interest that have made news from Lax Kw'alaams over the last year.