My 1 Year Reflections on Serving on Chawathil First Nation Council

Lessons Learned, Big Takeaways, and Would I Run Again?

Photo of Aaron Pete outside Chawathil First Nation Band Office.

In the quiet moments before stepping up to run for Chief and Council, I found myself enveloped by the memory of remarkable individuals who once walked among us. Although they are no longer with us, their influence lingers like a profound melody.

Out of deep respect for their families and to prevent co-opting their legacies for my platform, I will not mention their names. But let's just say, I was acutely aware that others might have filled the role with a different kind of grace.

The decision to run was rooted in a conviction that I could be a catalyst for positive change. My academic journey, first at the University of the Fraser Valley and later at the Peter A. Allard School of Law at UBC, has equipped me with a distinctive skill set and perspective. These experiences have forged tools that I believed could serve me well within the Council Chambers.

If you're not familiar with my community, I hail from Chawathil First Nation—a place about as close to Hope, British Columbia, as one community can be to another, separated only by a five-minute drive.

Here, the mountains and rivers converge, creating winds so powerful they literally shape the landscape. As Sonny McHalsie vividly portrays, Hope is where the mountains tighten their embrace and rivers rush, embodying the very essence of elemental force. It's a poignant metaphor for the strength and resilience of our community.