Kelly McLeod named interim deputy grand chief of Gwich’in Tribal Council in Canada
Kelly McLeod, president of Nihtat Gwich’in Council in Inuvik, a city in Canada’s Northwest Territories, will fill his late sister’s role as deputy grand chief of the Gwich’in Tribal Council on an interim basis until next February.
Kristine McLeod died in a traffic accident on the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk highway last August. She was 38 years old. She had been elected deputy grand chief in September 2020.
“Kelly and Kristine share the same values and thoughts about serving our Gwich’in Nation, and it was appropriate for our board to appoint Nihtat Gwich’in Council president Kelly McLeod as the Interim Deputy Grand Chief,” said Grand Chief Ken Kyikavichik in a Facebook post.
Kelly was elected president of Inuvik’s Nihtat Gwich’in Council last March.
He’s set to serve as deputy grand chief until the Gwich’in Tribal Council’s Annual General Assembly in February 2022.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Natan Obed acclaimed president of national Inuit org in Canada, CBC News
Finland: Psychosocial support for Sami proposed ahead of Finland’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Yle News
Sweden: Land use rights a key issue in this year’s Sami parliamentary elections in Sweden, Radio Sweden
