“I think I have to pinch myself a few times because it really hasn't, I think, fully sunk in,” Elizabeth Bosely told the News in a phone interview on Feb. 6, after election results identified her as the first female Kaa Shaáde Háni (leader of the people) of the Teslin Tlingit Council (TTC).
“It's made me really think a lot about my mother, you know, my grandmother, my aunties. I'm the youngest of eight children, and I have six sisters.”
Bosely uses the title Kaa Shaáde Háni, which translates to leader of the people, as opposed to the title Naa Shaáde Háni, on recommendation of Tlingit speakers and Elders within the community.
Aside from the disbelief, Bosely also expressed a sense of relief. She was initially elected in a September election whose results were appealed when issues with mail-in ballots became evident. A second election was called in December, and the election ended on Feb. 4 and results were announced last week. Bosely was again elected chief.
The election was “Tlingitized,” said Bosely: she said that it used a clan ranked-ballot system. The election winner had to win at least three of the five Teslin Tlingit clans (Kukhittan (Raven), Ishkitan (Frog), Yanyedi (Wolf), Deshitan (Split Tail Beaver), Dakl'awedi (Eagle)).
Bosely came first in three clans - the Kukhittan, the Dakl’awedi, and the Ishkitan.
Bosely said work will begin once the executive council - with one representative from each clan - is selected. The TTC’s strategic plan expires in March, said Bosely, meaning there is an opportunity for the leadership to understand community priorities.
One priority for Bosely is enhancing programs and services for citizens who live off of settlement land, she said. Two-thirds of TTC citizens live off of TTC traditional territory, she said.
Another priority will be the opioid crisis, she said. “I don't know of anyone who has not been touched by this opioid crisis.”
She said she would like to foster an alliance among Yukon First Nations and community service providers to strategize for ways to help communities struggling with the opioid crisis.
“One thing that really comes to mind for me is land-based healing. It never hurt anybody to stand on Mother Earth with your bare feet on the soil and and really taking a look at getting back to the land,” said Bosely.
“A lot of money can be spent on sending people out for treatment. But sometimes when they come back, it's like, what services do we have available in the community to help them, as a follow up and after-care.”
Bosely will be sworn in at some point in March. Until then, she is the Kaa Shaáde Háni-elect. Bosely said she is deeply grateful for the current leader, Eric Morris, and deputy, Alex Oakley, as well as members of the general and executive council members.
Morris told the News that having Bosely at the helm follows a pattern of women in leadership across Yukon First Nations.
He said he thinks Bosely’s election provides a way forward for younger women considering leadership.
“It's a reflection of that role that our mothers play in within our clans and in our community, or in our nation.
Bosely also expressed gratitude for many of the Elders, including male Elders who supported the change of having a female Kaa Shaáde Háni.
“We are a matrilineal culture, so we follow our mother's line. I believe that the matriarchs have always had input, were able to express their opinions, but none have ever held a formal leadership position for Kaa Shaáde Háni,” said Bosely. “So I feel, you know, really deeply honoured that that door has been opened,” said Bosely.
Contact Talar Stockton at talar.stockton@yukon-news.com
