Chris Derickson is ready to tackle the issues and priorities important to Westbank First Nation as their newly elected chief.
Derickson was recently elected with 376 votes being cast during the WFN香蕉视频直播檚 general election on Sept. 19. Four new band councillors were also elected.
Christopher Raymond Derickson elected new chief of Westbank First Nation
Derickson said he香蕉视频直播檚 still full of emotion after his election victory.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 still sinking in,香蕉视频直播� said Derickson.
香蕉视频直播淧eople call me chief and I forget to respond. We香蕉视频直播檙e all overwhelmed by it, but we香蕉视频直播檙e all very supported by our members.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 looking forward to a great three years.香蕉视频直播�
Making sure the band香蕉视频直播檚 economy remains sustainable is just one item Derickson wants to address during his first term as chief.
香蕉视频直播淢y priority is ensuring all of our members are looked after.
香蕉视频直播淎side from that, we also have 10,000 non-member residents and 500 businesses on our reserve.
香蕉视频直播淲e want to make sure the economy we香蕉视频直播檝e built here continues to flourish.香蕉视频直播�
Westbank First Nation generated $1 billion in gross domestic product last year, according to their website, contributing $117 million in direct revenue to the reserve from operating businesses.
Derickson said revitalizing their language is also on the top of his agenda.
香蕉视频直播淚 think all of council is behind revitalizing our language and putting more of a focus on our culture.
香蕉视频直播淲e want to get more fluent speakers in our membership. That香蕉视频直播檒l be a very high priority for us.香蕉视频直播�
At the opening of the newly-renovated s蓹nsisyust蓹n House of Learning Elementary School last Thursday, Derickson said he香蕉视频直播檇 like to turn the facility on Quail Road into a full-immersion nsyilxc蓹n language school one day.
The Westbank First Nation unveiled their new House of Learning school today.
香蕉视频直播� Connor Trembley (@ConnorTrembley)
The house will provide five new classrooms at the existing facility and will help ease enrollment pressures over the coming years.
Westbank First Nation is one of seven Indigenous communities that make up the Okanagan Nation where the nsyilxc蓹n language is spoken.
The new chief and councillors were officially sworn into their new positions at an oath of office ceremony Sept. 24.
connor.trembley@kelownacapnews.com
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