CHIEF AND COUNCILORS  In March of 1997 the election process was ratified, by a Special General Assembly held in Old Crow, to go back to the old system of one Chief and four Councilors. The following persons were elected to Chief and Council on November 10, 2003: Vuntut Gwitchin Chief - Deputy Chief - Councilor - Councilor - Councilor - Director, Human Resources Past Chief and Councilors _____________________________________________________________ Roles and Responsibilities of Chief and Council. Condensed from the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Constitution. (NOTE THE CONSTITUTION OF VGFN IS CURRENTLY UNDER REVISION AND THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CHIEF AND COUNCIL MAY VARY ACCORDING TO REVISIONS MADE.) Article V. The powers of the VGFN government are divided into four branches: the Chief and Council, the General Assembly, the Elders Council, and the Tribal Court. No person or group charged with the exercise of powers properly belonging to one of these branches shall exercise any power belonging to the others, except as this Constitution may express or permit. There shall be a Chief and Council elected by the eligible voters of the Vuntut Gwitchin pursuant to the Election Rules and Regulations set out in the VGFN Constitution. The Chief and Council shall consist of one Chief and three councilors. In the event that the required number of nominees have not been nominated to fill all the positions on the Council, the Elders Council shall recommend suitable candidates to the community at large in a duly called public meeting. All recommended candidates shall be consulted prior to nomination and the membership at large in Old Crow, must by consensus, approve the recommendations prior to the affirmation of the recommended candidate under this process. The terms of office for the Chief and Councilors shall be two years. The Chief and Council shall have and may exercise all the legal capacity, rights powers and privileges of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation as a legal entity and in accordance with the Constitution, may authorize the doing of such things as it may deem conducive to the exercise of such rights, powers, and privileges in the best interest of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation. The Chief and Council may enact such laws as it deems conducive to the general welfare and good government of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation. All laws enacted by the Chief and Council shall be consistent with the objects in the Constitution and the policy and guidelines established from time to time by the General Assembly. The Chief and Council shall establish, by law, after not less than 30 days written notice in advance, a general procedure for the enactment of laws. Duties and powers also include: implementing the direction of the General Assembly and adhering to its guidelines. setting clear policies and guidelines and ensuring good management and reporting in all aspects of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Government within the jurisdiction of the Chief and Council. allocating money and providing services to other branches of Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Government. maintaining up to date financial records and guaranteeing strict financial accountability in all aspects of Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Business and administration enacting land use codes pertaining to Settlement Lands and other lands under the ownership or jurisdiction of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation and establishing a system of laws according to the traditions, needs and ideals of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation and in accord with the objectives of the Constitution. exercising all jurisdiction power and authority of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation and fulfilling any duties of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation pursuant to the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Final Agreement and the Vuntut Gwitchin Self Government Agreement. as they deem advisable, establishing any trust for the benefit of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, constituting any persons as trustees thereof and vesting therein any property of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation. exercising such other powers as may incidental to the exercise of their powers or the performance of their duties under the Constitution, the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Final Agreement or the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Self Government Agreement. Duties Of The Chief The Chief of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation shall be the general spokes person for the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation and the chief executive in its government. The Chief shall hold no other office except as provided in the Constitution or as specifically approved by the Chief and Council. The Chief shall be the presiding officer of the Chief and Council and the General Assembly. The Chief shall have the power in accordance with the Constitution and any law and subject to the approval of the Chief and Council.  to appoint, promote and dismiss staff and employees responsible to the Chief and Council. direct, supervise and evaluate the performance of such staff and employees; to establish committees of the Chief and Council and appoint the members to such committees. to establish boards, commissions or other institutions to advise or assist the Chief and Council or to carry out such duties or exercise such powers as may be delegated or assigned by the Chief and Council. to ensure that resolutions approved and laws enacted by the Chief and Council are implemented and enforced. to direct the Tribal police if any in general to conduct their duties. to make recommendations to the GA or to the Chief and Council and to make periodic reports of the state of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation and; to exercise such additional powers as may be authorized by the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation law. to execute any contract on behalf of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation or the Chief and Council. Past Chief and Councilors Period  Chief  Councilors 1920-1921 Chief Balaam Josie Joe Kyikavichik, Charlie Doey 1921-1935 Chief Joe Kyikavichik Moses Tizya, Balaam Josie 1936-1949 Chief Peter Moses Moses Tizya 1950-1951 Chief Peter Moses Moses Tizya, John Kendi 1951-1953 Chief Peter Moses Joe Netro, Moses Tizya 1953-1954 Chief Peter Moses Phillip Joseph, Moses Tizya 1954-1956 Chief Charlie Peter Charlie Sr. Amos Josie, Charlie Thomas, John Kendi, John Moses 1956-1958 Chief Charlie Peter Charlie Sr. Lazarus Charlie, Amos Josie, John Kendi 1958-1960 Chief Charlie Abel-Chitzi Lazarus Charlie, Amos Josie, John Kendi, John Moses, Sarah Abel 1960-1962 Chief Charlie Abel-Chitzi Paul Ben Kassi, Alfred Charlie, Lazarus Charlie, John Kendi 1962-1964 Chief Charlie Peter Charlie Sr. John Kendi, John Moses, Amos Josie 1964-1966 Chief Charlie Abel-Chizi John Kendi, John Moses, Amos Josie 1966-1968 Chief Charlie Abel-Chizi Abraham Peter, Alfred Charlie, Lazarus Charlie, John Kendi 1968-1970 Chief Alfred Charlie Abraham Peter, Edith Josie, Lazarus Charlie, John Kendi 1970-1972 Chief Alfred Charlie Abraham Peter, Lazarus Charlie, John Joe Kyikavichik, Edith Josie 1972-1974 Chief John Joe Kyikavichik Lazarus Charlie, Helen Charlie, Peter Nukon 1974-1976 Chief John Joe Kyikavichik John Ross Tizya, Peter Nukon, Lazarus Charlie, Helen Charlie 1976-1978 Chief John Joe Kyikavichik Johhny Abel, Helen Charlie 1978-1980 Chief Johnny Abel Helen Charlie, Andrew Charlie 1980-1982 Chief Johnny Abel Helen Charlie, Stephan Frost, John Joe Kyikavichik 1982-1984 Chief Johnny Abel Grafton Njootli, Stephan Frost, Elizabeth Kaye, Helen Charlie 1984-1985 Chief Abraham Peter Alice Frost, Stanley Njootli, Howard Linklater, Helen Charlie, Esau Nukon 1985-1986 Chief Alice Frost Stanley Njootli, Howard Linklater, Helen Charlie, Esau Nukon 1986-1988 Chief Alice Frost George Vittrekwa, Roger Kyikavichik, Roy Moses, Stanley Njootli 1988-1990 Chief Roger Kyikavichik Gladys Nitro, Rober Bruce Jr., Danny Kassi, David Charlie 1990-1992 Chief Roger Kyikavichik Robert Bruce Jr., Alice Frost, Randall Kendi, Carl Charlie (Resigned) 1992-1994 Chief Robert Bruce Jr. Tracy Kassi, William Nukon (resigned), Brenda Frost, Randall Kendi, By-Election 1993: Carl Charlie 1994-1996 Chief Robert Bruce Jr. Dorothy Thomas, William Josie, Bruce Charlie, Vickie Josie 1996-1997 Chief Randall Tetlichi (Resigned 1997) Marvin Frost, Kathie Nukon, Mary J. Blake, Joe Linklater (Appointed 04/16/97) 1997-1998 Chief Marvin Frost (Appointed Chief 1997) Kathie Nukon, Mary J. Blake, Joe Linklater (Appointed 04/16/97) 1998-2000 Chief Joe Linklater Roger Kyikavichik, Patricia Minekime, Howard Linklater, William Josie 2000-2003 Chief Joe Linklater Roger Kyikavichik, Sandra Newman, Harvey Kassi, William Josie 2003-2006 Chief Joe Linklater Roger Kyikavichik, Glenna Tetlichi, William Josie, Esau Schafer If you would like further information please contact us at: Chief and Council Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation P.O. Box 94 Old Crow, Yukon Canada, Y0B 1N0 Tel: (867) 966-3261 Fax: (867) 966-3116