Michael Greenland has been appointed interim grand chief of the Gwich’in Tribal Council (GTC) by its board of directors.
Michael Greenland president of the Ehdiitat Gwich’in Council, will serve as Gwich’in Tribal Council interim grand chief. (Photo courtesy of GTC)
As president of the Ehdiitat Gwich’in Council, Greenland was a director of the GTC and will serve as interim grand chief at least until to the results of last month’s election of a Grand Chief are settled in the courts.
“The board recognizes that the GTC is in a transitional period and wants to ensure that the GTC continues to operate in a fair and transparent manner,” stated CEO Jamie Koe in a release on Monday.
“The board also recognizes the obligations the GTC (has to) continue to provide high-quality programming and services for our participants.”
Incumbent Grand Chief Ken Kyikavichik, immediately filed a complaint of election, after the 515 votes he received in the August 19th election was bested by Frederick Blake’s 604 votes.
On September 4th, Blake obtained an emergency hearing in NWT Supreme Court after the GTC’s board of directors ignored its own elections committee and returning officer, who ruled Kyikavichik’s allegations were largely unfounded, or lacking supporting evidence.
The board issued direction to the CEO Koe and the GTC’s leadership team to provide bi-weekly reports and provide updates on priority initiatives, such as the current new housing project.
The board also directed the CEO to flag for the Interim Grand Chief and board of directors any significant transactions that are not “routine and non-controversial business.”
