Gwich’in Tribal Council rejects court ruling upholding Frederick Blake Jr. as new grand chief

Council to appeal recent NWT Supreme Court decision which backed results of the 2024 election; postponed Friday's installment ceremony in Tsiigehtchic


Gwich'in Tribal Council headquarters in Inuvik. (Photo courtesy of GTC/Facebook)

The Gwich’in Tribal Council will appeal an NWT Supreme Court decision which declared Frederick Blake Jr. legally elected as grand chief and ordered the GTC’s board not to hold a new election.

At an emergency board meeting Wednesday in Inuvik, the tribal council’s board also rescheduled this Friday’s Special Assembly in Tsiigehtchic where the results of the election were to have been confirmed, and Blake sworn in.

That meeting will now be held in that community on March 1st.

Interim Grand Chief Michael Greenland made the announcement through a summary of the emergency board meeting, where a decision was also made to file an application to stay Justice Annie Piché’s January 14th decision.

Blake received the most votes in the August 19th GTC Grand Chief election, but his victory was overturned by the board of directors – going against the advice of its own independent Election Committee.

Incumbent Grand Chief Ken Kyikavichik, immediately filed a complaint following the election, after the 515 votes he received was bested by Blake’s 604 votes.

After Kyikavichik filed a complaint, the GTC’s Election Committee ruled Kyikavichik’s allegations were largely unfounded, or lacking supporting evidence.

It concluded: “The decision rendered by Gwich’in voters on election day is not a decision that is subject to appeal.”

But the GTC board subsequently “determined there were election violations,” of the GTC by-laws leading up to the August 19th election. But it ruled both candidates can run in a new election, if they so choose.

The impasse then landed in NWT Supreme court.

The GTC that represents Gwich’in Participants in the Mackenzie-Delta of the Northwest Territories and across Canada.

About the Author

James O'Connor
James O’Connor joined CKLB 101.9 FM at the start of 2024, after working as a journalist, photo editor and managing editor at newspapers in Manitoba and the Northwest Territories. James also has experience in politics, arts, service clubs and the NWT’s non-profit sector. At this point in his lengthy career, James is thrilled to be working at such a unique media outlet and always welcomes notes from listeners at: james.oconnor@cklbradio.com.