Three former chiefs to square off in WFN council elections
Two familiar faces will be squaring off to regain the position of Chief of the Westbank First Nation, according to the final list of candidates for the WFN election set for Sept. 15.
Roxanne Lindley, a one-term chief who lost to Christopher Derickson in the 2019 election, will be running against Robert Louie, who had been WFN chief from 1986 to 1996 and from 2002 to 2016.
Louie, who owns Indigenous World Winery, was chief during WFN’s push for the ill-fated Lake Okanagan Wellness Centre, a private for-profit hospital.
Lindley, daughter of Norman Lindley, WFN’s first chief, defeated Louie by 34 votes in 2016 to become WFN’s first female chief. In 2013 Louie beat Lindley, his only challenger.
Former WFN Chief Christopher Derickson resigned last June, alleging a lack of competency, integrity and moral courage within the WFN council following the unauthorized and undervalued sale of 147 acres of land owned by the WFN in Peachland in March 2021.
Seventeen candidates are vying for four positions on council including three incumbents hoping for re-election: Andrea Alexander, Fernanda Alexander, first elected to council in 2016, and Jordan Coble.
Brian Eli, who was defeated in the 2019 after some 25 years on council, is running again, as is Thomas Konek, defeated in the 2019 election after winning a seat in 2016.
Douglas Derrickson, son of Grand Chief Ron Derrickson, a former WFN chief, will be seeking a seat on council.
Also running are Angie Derrickson and Jennifer Money, currently on the Westbank First Nation Economic Development Commission, Raf De Guevara, Harold Derickson Sr., Emma Dovell, Jolene Esau, Candace Jack, Tasha Mae Swite, Llana Teichroeb, Sara Tronson and Albert Wilson.
There are approximately 855 Westbank First Nation members, the majority of whom reside on reserve.