Yunesitin

Russell Myers Ross will not be running as a candidate in this election. The newsletter highlights the reasons why he will not seek re-election and an update on a number of projects.

“I am grateful for serving the community as best I could for the past 8 years. I was able to experience so much in the leadership position. There is plenty more to do in Yunesit’in. I look forward to contributing where I can and witnessing the generations continue to pull together the vision that has been crafted thus far.”

Nits’il’in Russ

Voices From Here:
Voices From Here: Russell Myers Ross

Newsletter:
Newsletter Submission – Nits’il’in Russ – June 29, 2020

YUNESIT’IN GOVERNMENT
NOTICE OF NOMINATION FOR 2020 HOUSING COMMITTE ELECTION

The nomination process for this election begins on June 29th
and concludes at 4:00 pm on July 29th.

This election will be to choose two people for a four-term on the Committee. At the election in 2018, there were 5 people elected. In order to stagger future elections, the 3 people with the most voters were appointed to a four-year term to end in 2022 and the two people with the least votes, were appointed to a two-year term to end this year. As is the case with the Council election, this one will also be rescheduled to Wednesday, September 9th and will also be held at the Yunesit’in Health Centre from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm.

Any Band member 18 years of age or older may nominate candidates by filling out the nomination form. A member may nominate not more than 2 candidates. Voting members who live in the community can pick up the nomination forms at the office. Those who live outside the community, who have provided a recent address, will receive the forms by mail.

A nomination requires 3 supporters and the acceptance of the nominee. Failure to comply with all the rules and regulations, will void the nomination.

The nomination form with the names, telephone numbers and signatures of supporters, along with the candidate’s completed declaration form must be received at the Band office or at Box 158, Hanceville, BC V0L 1K0 no later than Wednesday, July 29th at 4:00 pm.

All candidates must be a member of the Yunesit’in Government; be at least 18 years old; be in good financial standing with the Government and Housing Department; and agree to follow the Housing Department’s terms of reference and policies –
both which are available at the Band office.

The list of all candidates nominated will be posted at the office on July 31st, and a copy of the voter list, the committee terms of reference and the housing policy will be available there. Please be advised that any elector may vote by mail-in ballot.

ANY QUESTIONS? Just contact the Electoral Officer, Blair MacKenzie in Victoria at 250-480-1433 or email: blair.mack@shaw.ca or call Rhoda Petal at the office 250-394-4041. Website: www.yunesitin.ca

Housing Nomination 2020

If you wish to have your name and address released to any candidate for the purpose of receiving campaign literature, please inform Rhoda at the office.

YUNESIT’IN GOVERNMENT
NOTICE OF NOMINATION FOR THE 2020 COUNCIL ELECTION

The nomination process for the election begins on June 29th
and concludes at 4:00 pm on July 29th.

This election will be to choose one person for Chief and two people for Councillor. The terms of office for Chief Russell Myers Ross and Councillors Rosalie Montgomery and Earl Quilt end this year. The terms of office for Councillors Ralph Myers and Gabriel Pukacz end in 2022. The election date has been set for Wednesday, September 9th to be held at the Yunesit’in Health Centre from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm.

Any Band member 18 years of age or older may nominate candidates by filling out the nomination form. A member may nominate not more than 1 candidate for Chief and 2 candidates for Councillor. Voting members who live in the community can pick up the nomination forms at the office. Those who live outside the community, who have provided a recent address, will receive the forms by mail.

A nomination requires 5 nominators and the acceptance of the nominee. Failure to comply with all the rules and regulations, will void the nomination.

The nomination forms, along with a non-refundable fee of $200. made payable to the Yunesit’in Government in the form of a certified cheque or money order, must be received at the Band office or at PO Box 158, Hanceville, BC V0L 1K0 no later than Wednesday, July 29th at 4:00 pm.

All candidates must be a member of the Yunesit’in Government; be at least 18 years old; pay the $200. fee when the nomination forms are submitted; and follow the rules in the Yunesit’in custom election code.

The list of all candidates nominated will be posted at the office on July 31st and a copy of the election code and list of voters will be available there.

Please be advised that any elector may vote by mail-in ballot.

ANY QUESTIONS? Just contact the Electoral Officer, Blair MacKenzie in Victoria at 250-480-1433 or email: blair.mack@shaw.ca or call Rhoda Petal at the office 250-394-4041. Website: www.yunesitin.ca

If you wish to have your name and address released to any candidate at this election for the purpose of receiving campaign literature, please inform Rhoda at the office.

Nomination notice 2020

Yunesit’in continues to work on Housing, from maintenance, renovations to new housing. Many governance pieces are in place despite of the challenges of capacity. There will be more to follow but here are a few highlights and a couple documents to showcase our Housing Policy and the New Housing Application.

Housing Committee:
The Housing Committee has been active with 5 Committee Members for the past couple years and has a staggered election cycle similar to that of the Chief and Council. More information will be provided as the Election date of September 9, 2020 nears.

Tsilhqot’in National Government:
The TNG has received significant funds from the Federal Government to address critical housing needs. The TNG is taking time with careful consideration on how to invest the $21.5 million dollars to each of the 6 Tsilhqot’in communities and ensure capacity is built from the Nation Housing Authority and ensuring ways to build houses from within each community.

UBC Wildfire Project:
Yunesit’in is working with UBC Architecture to apply fire prevention methods to housing and is working on a prototype to be designed and built in the community.

Indigenous Homes Innovation Initiative:
Yunesit’in Participation in Ecotrust Canada is exploring ways to supporting the development of housing from a perspective of governance, lands and people.
https://ecotrust.ca/priorities/home-lands/

New Housing Applications:
Due to Covid-19 and the office closure, Yunesit’in is adjusting the New Housing Applications deadline, which will be set back a month to June 15, 2020. Electronic copies can be provided upon request by email: rmross@yunesitin.ca or rpetal@yunesitin.ca. Those that provided Housing Applications last year will be contacted to either renew, make additions or withdraw their applications. As based on the Housing Policy, the Housing Committee will review applications and rank them based on criteria set. Those highly ranked in priority will be considered first for new housing.

Resources:

Yunesit’in Housing Policy:
Final Housing Policy 2016

Step 1 of the New Housing Application:
New Housing Applicaion – 2020

YUNESIT’IN GOVERNMENT COVID-19 VIRUS BY-LAW
PUBLIC NOTICE
In Effect: April 24, 2020

Yunesit’in Council have enacted a By-Law for the health and safety of residents in the community and to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

As part of the Tsilhqot’in Nation’s State of Emergency, Yunesit’in is restricting visitors who are not current residents of Yunesit’in. Some essential workers, services and those authorized with an Entry Certificate Letter may be exempt.

For the interim, Yunesit’in Government have employed personnel at road check points along Taseko Lake Rd to monitor, educate and enforce the enacted By-Law. Road access will be restricted between 10pm to 6am from Friday, April 24 to Wednesday, April 29, 2020 to limit traffic to Yunesit’in. Essential services and select residents will still be able to pass through.

This post is issued to encourage Yunesit’in members to read the enacted By-Law and for the public to understand the measures our officers will be using to ensure the community, especially the Elders, remain safe from Covid-19.

For the safety of the community, please respect the intention of the enacted By-Law. Yunesit’in officers will make efforts to express our need to take safety precautions, although they have the power to direct people to stay home or limit access to the community. This is a legally enforceable document, and failure to comply with the enacted By-Law can result in a fine up to $1000.00 or up to 30 days imprisonment.

We must take care of our Elders and vulnerable members.
We ask for your strict compliance in the interest of saving lives and stopping the spread of COVID-19. (Bylaw enacted pursuant to section 81(1)(a) of the Indian Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. I-5, posted on the Yunesit’in Government webpage (yunesitin.ca) and on the Yunesit’in News & Events Facebook Page)

Yunesit’in Government Covid-19 Virus By-Law:
YG By-Law Covid-19 – April 24, 2020

Yunesit’in Council Resolution on Road Check Points on Taseko Lake Road:
BCR – YG Road Check Point – April 24, 2020

Postponement of Election

As a Council, we chose to postpone the election. 



In reading the Yunesit’in Custom Election Code, it grants the Council the ability to extend the deadline up to 60 days. In following our Code, we chose to postpone the election from July 15 to September 9. 



The main reasons for postponing the election is to allow our Council to continue addressing the emergency response due to the covid-19 pandemic and to proceed with the election when it is possible to assemble in gatherings. 



We felt that we have a good team to address covid-19, which has experience with the 2017 wildfires and the inter-governmental relationships to gather resources and get things done efficiently. The Council did not think it would be wise to hold an election and risk a new Council attempting to learn and govern through a crisis.



Our Council also felt that it would only be fair to have an election when the restrictions are lifted, whereby we can visit and meet in gatherings as a community. An election in Yunesit’in requires polling stations and it would require undue energy to logistically set up a safe environment for the community. It would be risky for Elders and the participation turnout may be low, so we thought best to resume when covid-19 is no longer a threat.



We do not expect everyone to respect our decision, but our emphasis is on safety and fairness, and we believe this is the most thoughtful decision to make during this uncertain time. 



– Yunesit’in Council (April 24, 2020)

Refer to the Yunesit’in Custom Election Code as a Governing Community Document
CUSTOM ELECTION CODE -Final October 2007