Oliver Wesley was elected as the new Chief of the Kashechewan First Nation in the community’s elections held on Jan. 9. Chief Wesley replaces the outgoing Andrew Reuben, who held the office for the past two years.
Also elected was a Deputy Chief and 10 councillors, including Elder and youth representatives.
Election results for Chief were: Oliver Wesley, 131 votes; Willie Wesley, 79 votes; Jonathan Solomon, 76 votes; and Andrew Reuben, 65 votes.
The Deputy Chief elected was George Hughie with 208 votes.
Also included on the electoral ballot was if the Chiefs term should remain at two years or extended to three years. The results favored a three-year term.
“The community felt the Chiefs term was short for two years,” said Alpheus Wesley, electoral officer. “Because the Chief can’t do as much in a short term, that’s why that questionnaire was on the ballot.”
