Katzie First Nation welcomed their new chief and council at an inauguration ceremony Wednesday evening.
Incumbent Chief Grace George, who ran unopposed for her fifth term in office, stood with returning councillors Rick Bailey, David Kenworthy, and newly elected Darcy Erickson, in a row beside the evening’s host Len Pierre as he commenced formalities in the gym at the Katzie Health and Community Centre.
“Today is more than just a ceremony,” Pierre said. “It is a moment of continuity, responsibility, and renewal. We gather not just to witness the leadership, but to affirm our collective commitment to our Katzie people, to our lands, and to our future generations,” he told the crowd of about 80 who were there to witness the ceremony.
The inauguration, Pierre noted, is not just about authority, but about accountability to the community.
“For our leaders this moment represents a promise, to serve with humility, to listen deeply, to act with courage, to uphold the teachings and the laws of the Katzie people,” he said, noting it was also a time for the community to stand together, to support the leadership and hold leadership accountable in a good and strong way.
“And, of course, as Katzie people, to walk alongside of one another as we have done from time immemorial,” he said.
He then called forward two witnesses by their Indigenous names to bear witness to the ceremony: Mike Leon and Stacey McKamey – in English– who were given tokens of gratitude by the incumbent chief and council.
“When we call forward witnesses, we are asking those witnesses to be the living memory, the living marker of taking into account the record of what the words that are going to be transpired here today,” he explained.
Cedar was laid along the floor of the gym in the Katzie Health Centre where the ceremony was held.
Pierre explained how cedar is known as the tree of life, and is a tree that remains strong and green all year round. Cedar has not only provided the Katzie with many gifts like tools, housing, and drumsticks, but it is also a source of medicine, and is laid on the floor to bless the ground with good medicine.
After calling on four receivers to receive the new chief and council, a group of young singers and drummers led a procession around the gym to the front, where the future council and chief stood on the cedar to recite their oath of office and code of conduct in unison.
Everybody who gathered then had an opportunity to congratulate the foursome and offer their support.
The witnesses offered closing remarks.
Leon told the new council that he really enjoyed seeing the involvement of the youth in the ceremony because they are the future of the Katzie, and that he sees the nation moving forward, not sitting quiet any longer
“Watching this all take place tonight truly warmed my heart,” added McKamey.
“I’ll be more than happy to able to continue to share the story of what I witnessed tonight.”
Katzie chief and council serve a term of two years, ending on March 31, 2028, when there will be another election.