Tsiigehtchic, N.W.T., has mayor and council for 1st time ever
Residents voted in 2023 to establish hamlet government separate from the Gwichya Gwich'in band council
A new mayor and council was sworn in for the first time ever on Wednesday in Tsiigehtchic, N.W.T.
People in the Gwich'in community voted nearly two years ago to become a hamlet after petitioning for the change in status. Seventy-six per cent of those who voted in the May 2023 plebiscite were in favour.
The hamlet was formally established last July.
Up to then, Tsiigehtchic — with fewer than 200 residents — was a charter community government. Becoming a hamlet means there are now two distinct government structures: a hamlet council, and the Gwichya Gwich'in band council.
"As a hamlet, the authority and operations of the community government are more easily defined and separated. In addition, this new community status means that all residents are eligible to vote and run for the mayor and councillor positions," reads a news release from the N.W.T. government.
While Tsiigehtchic had a chartered community council, several members — the mayor's spot and two of five council positions — were automatically filled by the band council.
Residents voted for the new hamlet mayor and council in an election last month, with 55 per cent of all eligible voters casting ballots.
Shawn James Roland VanLoon is now mayor, and eight people were elected councillors: James Andre, Davina Benoit-Cardinal, Charlene Blake, Dinah Blake, Georgie Niditchie, Peter Ross, Shalene Shae and Brian Smith.