A familiar face is returning as chief of Sitansisk First Nation in Fredericton. Allan Polchies has won a fourth term in Thursday’s election.
He held off four challengers, including former chief Candice Paul, with 47 per cent of the overall vote.
Polchies, who has spent more than 17 years on council, is hitting the ground running.
“We just had an election, now I’m having a council meeting today,” said Polchies.
“That’s my commitment to the community, to the citizens, and, you know, to the work that I do for my beautiful nation.”
Allan Polchies beat out four challengers, including former chief Candice Paul, with 47 per cent of the overall vote of Sistansisk First Nation, also known as St. Mary’s.
Polchies is entering this term during a time of change, politically.
October saw a change of government with Susan Holt’s provincial Liberals after six years of Progressive Conservatives in power. And there will be a federal election in 2025.
Polchies says he’s hopeful the community’s relationship with the province will be better than under the previous leadership.
“The relationship is definitely looking very hopeful,” he said.
“We just need that support with the provincial government to, of course, move files such as clean energy, which we’re working on, hospitality and tourism, which we’re working on, gaming, which we’re working on, all those files that are on the forefront.”
Changes are in the works for the next Sitansisk election.
Up until now the community has held council elections every two years but starting in 2026, chief and council members will start serving four-year terms.
Polchies said this will give the First Nation more time to work on important projects.
“Four year gives us more of a flexibility, gives us a little bit of wiggle room to, of course, do the work that we want to do with the economic developments,” said Polchies.
“By time we of course get to where we want to get to, it’s now election time. So everything gets put on hold and now we’ve got to wait till the election is over.”
