SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
September 25, 2017
Dr. Judith Sayers elected as the new president of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council
(Port Alberni, B.C.) The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council (NTC) is pleased to announce that Dr. Judith Sayers has been elected as the new president of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council.
Judith won in today’s election in Port Alberni, garnering 59 votes. She won the majority of votes over past president Debra Foxcroft who received 24 votes. Judith will serve as president of the NTC for the next 4 years.
Judith is a member of the Hupacasath First Nation and mother of two. She has worked as a Strategic Adviser to First Nations and corporations and is an adjunct professor with the Peter Gustavson School of Business and Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria. Judith was the elected Chief of the Hupacasath First Nation for 14 years and the Chief Negotiator for 15 years. Her educational background includes a business and law degree and an honourary Doctor of Laws from Queen’s University. Judith has an extensive background of practicing law for 18 years in both Alberta and British Columbia, working in international forums, lobbying governments and other agencies for the promotion and protection of First Nations rights and title.
The NTC was fortunate to have Debra Foxcoft as President for the last 4 years and Ken Watts as its vice-president for the last 5 years.
Past president Debra Foxcroft has been a strong and valuable asset to the NTC. Since elected president, she has always put the needs and priorities of all Nuu-chah-nulth people first. Debra’s work has positively benefitted the NTC in more ways than can be mentioned. To name a few, Debra has successfully negotiated for more funding for NTC’s delegated agency Usma, secured funding to host a Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls Healing Gathering for Nuu-chah-nulth families and has always made sure Canada never forgot about the resilient and united Nuu-chah-nulth communities on Vancouver Island.
Past vice-president, Ken Watts was an exemplary leader who committed his work to serving all the Nuu-chah-nulth communities and advancing their priorities into real action and commitment from all levels of government. He did not run for re-election and the NTC wishes him well in his future endeavors. The NTC vice-president position remains vacant at this time. The by-election for the NTC vice-president position will be held on October 30th.
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The NTC provides programs and services to over 9,000 registered members. The role of the NTC is to represent fourteen First Nations in three regions stretching 300 kilometers of the Pacific Coast of Vancouver Island from Brooks Peninsula in the North to Point-no-Point in the south. The NTC represents Ahousaht, Ditidaht, Ehattesaht, Hesquiaht, Hupacasath, Huu-ay-aht, Kyuquot/Cheklesaht, Mowachaht /Muchalaht, Nuchatlaht, Tla-o-qui-aht, Toquaht, Tseshaht, Uchucklesaht and Ucluelet First Nations.
For more information, please contact:
Executive Director
Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council
P: 250.724.5757 ext. 245
E: florence.wylie@nuuchahnulth.org
Nazaneen Dizai,
Communications Coordinator
Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council
P: 250.724.5757 ext. 286
E: nazaneen.dizai@nuuchahnulth.org
