The Gwich’in Tribal Council says it will hold a special assembly in Tsiigehtchic on January 31 to welcome Frederick Blake Jr as its new grand chief.
Blake won an election in August last year but the outcome was challenged and ultimately ended up in front of an NWT Supreme Court judge.
The court ruled last week that the result should stand.
In a Facebook post on Monday, the Gwich’in Tribal Council said its board had met and voted to call a special assembly at the end of the month “to announce and confirm the results” of the election.
By email, a spokesperson for the council confirmed Blake will be installed as the new grand chief at that event. Tsiigehtchic is his home community.
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While the tribal council and defeated incumbent Ken Kyikavichik have the right to appeal last week’s ruling, there has so far been no indication that either party will do so.
The tribal council’s board also said its next meeting will take place in Whitehorse because the original venue, Yellowknife, has a “lack of accommodation and meeting space” in late March.
