Willie Sellars has been elected chief of the Williams Lake Indian Band, after voters went to the polls Thursday.
The 34-year-old has been on band council for three terms and will replace Chief Ann Louie who held the position for the last decade.
“I’m excited and pretty humbled by the amount of support I got,” Sellars told the Tribune Friday morning. “The legacy of former chief Ann Louie and what she’s done for our community in the last 10 years means I have some big shoes to fill.”
Louie will be coaching him as he takes on his new role, which starts Aug. 23, he said.
Sellars said he spent the last three days at the Fraser River and at Farwell Canyon before election day grounding himself and going over in his mind all the reasons he has for wanting to become chief.
“Since I was a kid, I wanted to be chief,” he added. “I am really looking forward to the future. There’ve been so many great things happening for our community.”
Sellars lives on Sugar Cane Reserve with his three children — Milah, Cash and Lewis.
During the winters, he is the goaltender with the Williams Lake Stampeders and during the summers he dipnets, participates in cultural activities and plays community fastball.
Four years ago his first book Dipnetting With Dad was published and in December 2018 his second book, Hockey With Dad, will hit the shelves.
On National Aboriginal Day 2016, Sellars addressed the Senate Committee, and said at the time he was one of the youngest presenters there.
Read more: Coun. Sellars addresses Senate Committee on National Aboriginal Day
Also vying for the position of chief were Heather J. McKenzie, JoAnne Moiese, Kristy J. Palmantier, Earl R. Thomas and Tommy Wycotte.
Electoral officer Lisa Camille confirmed that Sellars garnered 84 votes, McKenzie received 36, Moiese, 52, Palmantier, 29, Thomas, 14 and Wycotte received four.
Running for councillor positions were Willie Peanuts Aby, June Harry, Donna McKenzie, Heather McKenzie, JoAnne Moiese, Shawna Philbrick, Richard Sellars Sr., Nina Solomon, Lennard Supernault, Norma Sure, Cody William, Sheldon Wycotte and Chris Wycotte Sr.
Moiese won with 55 votes, Philbrick with 48 and Supernault with 45 votes.
Of 402 eligible voters, 221 voted, Camille said.
In the spring of 2018, Sellars tried his hand at bull riding in the indoor rodeo, and was paired with Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price, who opened his chute.
Read more: Sellars, Price team up at Williams Lake Indoor Rodeo
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