Wesley and council sworn in at Snuneymuxw

John Wesley was sworn in Monday as Chief of the Snuneymuxw First Nation, along with 4 members of Council.

The election was a close one, Wesley beat former Chief Doug White by a margin of 13 votes.

Wesley has served 2 terms as Chief in the past, and says after a battle with cancer he’s ready to get back to work.

After the inauguration, Wesley issued statement outlining his goals:

“As  the new Chief of Snuneymuxw,  I am deeply honoured  to be a member of  this Council and  I pledge  to work closely and collaboratively with other members of Council  to meet  the challenges and opportunities  that we  face together as a nation.

I  am  very  aware  of  the  heavy  responsibilities  that  I  have  as  the Chief  of  Snuneymuxw.    In  discharging  those responsibilities, I will be guided by several very important goals or values.

1)  To vigorously defend and strengthen Snuneymuxw rights and interests. This includes the rights of Snuneymuxw enshrined in the Treaty of 1854.
2)  To build on the successes of the past, but at the same time be open to change or a new direction.
3)  To build bridges and partnerships whenever possible.
4)  To be a force for unity and mutual understanding within the Nation. To be strong, we must heal the divisions of the past and work together towards common goals.
5)  To increase accountability and transparency at all levels of Snuneymuxw government.
6)  To be accessible to everyone and listen to the views of others.
The next four years will be full of challenges and opportunities for Snuneymuxw. By working together, I am very confident the Snuneymuxw Nation will be stronger, more united and more prosperous than it is today.”