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害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 still full of emotion after his election victory.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 still sinking in,害羞草研究所� said Derickson.
害羞草研究所淧eople call me chief and I forget to respond. We害羞草研究所檙e all overwhelmed by it, but we害羞草研究所檙e all very supported by our members.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 looking forward to a great three years.害羞草研究所�
Making sure the band害羞草研究所檚 economy remains sustainable is just one item Derickson wants to address during his first term as chief.
害羞草研究所淢y priority is ensuring all of our members are looked after.
害羞草研究所淎side from that, we also have 10,000 non-member residents and 500 businesses on our reserve.
害羞草研究所淲e want to make sure the economy we害羞草研究所檝e built here continues to flourish.害羞草研究所�
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.
害羞草研究所淚 think all of council is behind revitalizing our language and putting more of a focus on our culture.
害羞草研究所淲e want to get more fluent speakers in our membership. That害羞草研究所檒l be a very high priority for us.害羞草研究所�
At the opening of the newly-renovated s蓹nsisyust蓹n House of Learning Elementary School last Thursday, Derickson said he害羞草研究所檇 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.
害羞草研究所� 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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