September 27, 2021: North Vancouver, BC – The Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) announced today the results of the 2021 General Election. This year’s election is the first since Nation Members voted to implement a new electoral process in a 2018 referendum. Included in those changes is a historic moment for Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw marking the first time off-reserve Members, located in Canada, USA, Germany, Belgium, Fiji, and New Zealand, have been able to participate in the voting process.
A total of 1,034 ballots were cast by Nation Members to elect Squamish Nation Council and Band Manager in-person on September 26th as well as by mail and online during the period of August 27th to September 26th. One Council Chairperson, seven Councillors, and one Band Manager are set to serve a four-year term, beginning in October. The roles of Council Chairperson and Band Manager were filled by acclamation.
“Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw is one of the fastest growing communities in the country: growth in families, profits, and opportunities for our people,” said Chairperson Khelsilem, entering his second term on Council since first being elected in 2017. “I am honoured to serve again on Council as a strong advocate for growth that leaves no one behind. We all succeed when we succeed together.”
2021 Squamish Nation Council
- Council Chairperson Dustin Rivers – Khelsilem (filled by acclamation)
- North Shore Councillor Shayla Jacobs
- Regional Councillor Kristen Tiyaltelut Rivers
- Squamish Valley Councillor Joyce Williams
- General Councillors Sempulyan Stewart Gonzales, Ann Whonnock Syexwaliya, Chief Dick Williams, Wilson Williams
- Band Manager Bianca Cameron (nee: Joseph) (filled by acclamation)
The 2021 General Election is the first to be governed by the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw Election and Referendum Law, which was developed through the largest-ever consultation and engagement initiative with Membership, and approved through a referendum in 2018. This was the first change to the Nation’s electoral process since 1981. 2018’s electoral reform saw a whole suite of changes, including online voting, the ability for both on-reserve and off-reserve Members to vote and call referendums on subjects of their choosing, and changes to candidacy requirements and campaign rules to improve transparency.
Click to view the Official Count Declaration.
For more information, please contact media@squamish.net.
About Us
The Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) is a vibrant and dynamic Coast Salish Nation that has existed and prospered within its traditional territory since time immemorial. The Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Stelmexw (Squamish People) continue to reside in the area now described as the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. The largest proportion of Members live in several urban reserve communities in the present-day cities of Vancouver, North and West Vancouver and the municipality of Squamish, B.C. Over 47 per cent of the more than 4,050 Members live on-reserve, and membership is determined by guidelines set out in the Squamish Nation Membership Code. The Nation has never ceded or surrendered title to its lands, rights to its resources or the power to make decisions within its territory.