A Vancouver Island woman was elected yesterday as regional chief for the sa国际传媒 Assembly of First Nations.
Jody Wilson Raybould, 38, a councillor from the We Wai Kai First Nation of Cape Mudge Village and a commissioner with the sa国际传媒 Treaty Commission, was elected on the third ballot, with 54 per cent of the vote.
The runoff ballot was between Wilson Raybould and Shane Gottfriedson, chief of the Tk'emlups/ Kamloops Indian Band.
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of sa国际传媒 Indian Chiefs, was knocked off in the second ballot and threw his support behind Wilson Raybould, the daughter of well-known aboriginal leader Bill Wilson.
The position of regional chief has been vacant since July, when former regional chief Shawn Atleo of Ahousaht was elected as national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.
Two women have previously served as regional chief, Wendy Grant John of the Musqueam First Nation and Ko'Waintco Michel of the Nooaitch Indian Band.
