Gwich’in Tribal Council appoints interim grand chief

The Gwich’in Tribal Council office in Inuvik, N.W.T. The council’s board of directors has appointed Michael Greenland as its interim grand chief. (Dez Loreen/CBC)

By RCI, CBC News

Michael Greenland at the helm until court dispute over election results is resolved

The Gwich’in Tribal Council has appointed Michael Greenland as its temporary grand chief while a dispute over the results of the last election goes to the N.W.T. Supreme Court.

Greenland is the president of the Ehdiitat Gwich’in Council in Aklavik. The Gwich’in Tribal Council’s board of directors met Friday to appoint him as interim grand chief.

In a news release Monday, the Gwich’in Tribal Council stated that Greenland will be the interim grand chief until a judge reviews the council’s decision to call a new election, and until the conclusion of any election processes that follow that review.

That review comes at the behest of Frederick Blake Jr., who won last month’s election. (The council’s board of directors overturned the results of that election after a complaint by candidate Ken Kyikavichik, whom Blake defeated.)

Monday’s news release notes the N.W.T. Supreme Court is expected to hold a hearing on the matter on Oct. 30.

In the meantime, the council expects its business will continue as usual.

“The [board of directors] has issued direction to the chief executive officer and the GTC leadership team to ensure operations of the GTC continue based on the board’s current strategic direction,” the council wrote.

“The board looks forward to working through the current court process while supporting all Gwich’in participants.”