The lawyer for Frederick “Sonny” Blake Jr says a recent legal agreement puts an end to conflict over his client’s election as Gwich’in grand chief.
A consent order signed by representatives of the Nihtat, Ehdiitat, Gwichya and Tetł’it Gwich’in councils, as well as Grand Chief Blake, was filed with the NWT Supreme Court earlier this month.
In that document, the parties agree that Blake was elected as grand chief in August 2024 and took office effective January 14, 2025, in accordance with a decision by the court.
“Mr Blake is glad that this distraction about the election is finally settled and out of the way,” Blake’s lawyer, Toby Kruger, told Cabin Radio.
“Obviously, he’s pleased with the results and he looks forward to working with everybody, including the applicants, to further his mandate.”
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Kruger said had the consent order not been signed, Blake’s next step would have been to seek a court order confirming he has taken office.
The agreement puts a cap on disputes stemming from the August 2024 election for Gwich’in grand chief and a cancelled January 2025 special assembly.
While Blake garnered the most votes in the election, the Gwich’in Tribal Council’s board overturned the result on appeal. Blake then took the matter to the NWT Supreme Court, which ruled on January 14 that he had been duly elected as chief.
While a special assembly scheduled for January 31 in Tsiigehtchic was set to include a swearing-in ceremony for Blake, council board members decided to postpone that assembly until March. Nevertheless, organizers went ahead with a ceremony and celebration in Tsiigehtchic on that day.
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The Nihtat and Ehdiitat Gwich’in councils then filed a legal challenge against Blake and representatives of the Gwichya and Tetł’it Gwich’in councils in February. They alleged a Gwich’in Tribal Council board meeting held earlier that month was invalid and took issue with several resolutions passed at the meeting.
Part of their argument was that Blake had not been officially sworn in as chief. Blake argued he had taken office following January’s court decision and a swearing-in was merely a ceremonial practice.
In April, the NWT Supreme Court dismissed a request to temporarily prevent Blake from taking office until he was sworn in and prevent board members from acting on any of the resolutions from the February board meeting.
Beyond confirming that Blake has taken office, the recent consent order indefinitely adjourns a hearing – which had been set to take place this week – regarding whether the court should enforce a settlement agreement between the parties.
The terms of that agreement included that a special assembly be held to swear in Blake as grand chief, and that the disputed resolutions from the February meeting be reconsidered at a board hearing.
While Blake and the directors of the Nihtat and Ehdiitat Gwich’in councils had all signed the agreement, at least one other party had not.
Kruger said the applicants could still request that the court hear that application in future, but said that is unlikely “given that the case has kind-of progressed since that point in time.”
In an email, Larry Innes, one of the lawyers representing the Nihtat and Ehdiitat councils, told Cabin Radio the consent order gives effect to April’s court finding that Blake has taken office.
“The other issues between the parties remain in contention,” he wrote.
Cabin Radio has approached the Gwich’in Tribal Council for comment.
