Pearl Lorentzen
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Four people are running for chief and 16 for council in the June 25 Swan River First Nation election. The election is for a chief and three councillors.
The official list of candidates has the following information:
In alphabetical order the candidates for chief are Gerald J. Giroux (former chief), Mark Giroux (Davis) (current councillor), Darryel Sowan (Mr. D), and Lee Twinn (incumbent).
In alphabetical order, the councillor candidates are Dale Chalifoux, Leon Chalifoux, Patrick Chalifoux (incumbent), Ryan D. Davis (incumbent), Buddy Giroux, Carrie Lee Ann Florence Kachur (Sowan), Nicole McIvor (Twin), Ardell Sloat, Charmaine Sound, Fred (Bugsy) Sowan, Leroy Sowan, Kevin Twin, Tara Twin, Terry Twin, John Willier, and Richard Woodman.
Each candidate had to be nominated and seconded by a band member on the voting list. They also had to submit a declaration of nomination before the deadline on May 14.
Three nominees weren’t seconded, says the list of candidates, of these one was for chief and two for councillor. Also, one candidate didn’t submit the proper form.
The last election was in June 2022.
The election will by June 25 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The polling station will be at the Swan River First Nation School, Unit 129A, Swan River First Nation. Advance polls will be June 19 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Treaty 8 office at Santa Fe Plaza 11620 168 St. NW, Edmonton.
Band members can also vote by mail. They may request the mail-in ballot package no later than June 15, 2025. These will also be mailed out automatically to band members who live off of reserve who have given the band a mailing address.
The vote is open to band members 18 and older on the day of voting who are on the elector list.
Band members can view the list of electors at the band office during business hours, request it from the electoral officer, or through www.onefeather.ca/nations/swanriver.
To run for council, a person must be a band member 18 years old or older, who has lived on Swan River reserve for at least one year prior to the nomination deadline, and commits to live on reserve for the three years of their term. They also may not owe any debt to the band and must pay a $500 nonrefundable deposit to run for chief and $400 for council.