As per Part 4 of the Nisga’a Government Act (July 29, 2011) regarding appointment to the Council of Elders, section 44 (2) of that Act provides that each year, the Chief Councillor of a Nisga’a Village Government must provide a reasonable opportunity for all persons who ordinarily reside in the relevant Nisga’a Village and who meet the qualifications set out in subsection (1), to advise the Chief Councillor by September 15 of that year whether they would be prepared to accept an appointment in November of the year as a member of the Council.

Under section 44 (1), a person is eligible to hold office as a member of the Council if the person

(a)          is

(i)            a Nisga’a citizen,

(ii)           a Sim’oogit, Sigidimnak’ or other respected Nisga’a elder,

(iii)          ordinarily resident on Nisga’a Lands, and

(iv)         at least 60 years of age,

(b)          is not

(i)            a member of the House

(ii)           a member of the Nisga’a Administrative Decisions Review Board, or

(iii)          the Nisga’a Elections Officer, and

(c)          would not have been disqualified under the Nisga’a Elections Act as a candidate for election to office as a member of the House, on a ground other than membership in the Council of Elders, if an election under that Act had been held on the date of the person’s appointment as a member of the Council.

Elders prepared to sit a term of two (2) years on the Council of Elders and who meet the qualifications for candidacy, can request a Declaration of Eligibility form and the Council of Elders Request Form for Status of Prescribed Debt from your Nisga’a Village Administration office. The completed Declaration of Eligibility form and the Council of Elders Request Form for Status of Prescribed Debt, must be completed, signed and sent to Nisga’a Lisims Government, Ayuukhl Nisga’a Department.

Please also read the Addendum to the Declaration of the Eligibility and section 15, Qualifications to stand for office in the Nisga’a Elections Act.  Elders must also go to the RCMP Detachment and request a current Criminal Record Check to qualify for candidacy for the Council of Elders.

Four regular members and four alternate members will be selected for appointment to the Council of Elders for a two year term.  One Elder will be selected from each of the Nisga’a Villages for a regular member and an alternate member.

This year the members whose term will expire in December 2013 are:

Regular Members:

• Harry Moore, Gingolx
• Andrew Mercer, Laxgalts’ap
• Jacob Nyce, Gitwinksihlkw
• Lorene Plante, Gitlaxt’aamiks

Alternate Members:

• Mercy Moore, Gitwinksihlkw
• Gary Davis, Gitlaxt’aamiks

Sa’amhl wilin