On Thursday, August 27, 2026, Lhoosk’uz Dené Nation members will gather to elect its Chief. Whether you plan to join us in person at the Quesnel Seniors Centre or vote online from home on the digital portal, every single vote counts towards shaping the shared future of Lhoosk’uz Dené Nation.
Serving as Chief is a vital leadership role in our community. The Chief represents Lhoosk’uz Dené Nation members, works alongside Council, and helps make key decisions that support our Nation today while planning for future generations.
To make it as easy as possible for everyone to participate in this important vote, we’ve put together this simple, all-in-one guide to answer your most important questions: Am I allowed to vote? Where do I go? How does voting work? And what happens on election night?
There is also a short Frequently Asked Questions section at the end of this page. If you still have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Lhoosk’uz Dené Nation administration office at 250-992-3290.
Who is running for Chief?
As announced on August 6, 2026, the following eligible candidates have met all requirements under the Custom Election Code and will stand for election as Chief:
- ETHERINGTON, JEUDI
- CHANTYMAN, RAVEN
Members please note that all candidates for Chief are bound by the Custom Election Code to conduct their campaigns according to several ethical rules, including:
- without coercion or vote-buying;
- respecting the right and freedom of other candidates to organize and campaign;
- respecting the rights of voters to obtain information from a variety of sources;
- ethically, with a focus on political issues and candidate platforms rather than smear campaigns or ones based on rumors or innuendo;
- non-violently, without intimidating opposing candidates, opposition supporters or the media; and
- respecting the freedom of the press to cover the campaign and to express opinions on the campaign.
Please see the Custom Code for the complete list of campaigning rules.
We encourage all members to take some time before August 27 to learn about the candidates.
Who can vote?
If you’re wondering if you are eligible to vote, the rules under our Custom Election Code are straightforward. You can cast a ballot if you meet the following requirements:
- You are a registered member of Lhoosk’uz Dené Nation (listed on the Band List maintained by Indigenous Services Canada).
- You are 18 years of age or older on election day (August 27, 2026).
You do not need to live on reserve to participate! Whether you live locally or far away, every eligible voting member has an equal voice in this election.
When and where will the election meeting be held?
- Thursday, August 27, 2026
- Meeting Start Time: 5:00 p.m. PDT
- In-Person Location: Quesnel Seniors Centre, 461 Carson Ave., Quesnel, BC
- Virtual Attendance: Online via video conference: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/258116983653469?p=vQYUyz4bZlqVELn1zl
Meeting ID: 258 116 983 653 469
Passcode: JP2KT2pG
Who will oversee the election?
In accordance with the Custom Code, Lhoosk’uz Dené Nation councillors selected a third party Electoral Officer to oversee the election meeting, to ensure that all voters are registered members, to count votes, and report the result of the vote.
The Electoral Officer for this vote is:
- Brett Bilyk
- Email: brett@onefeather.ca
- Phone: 1-855-923-3006
Brett can be contacted anytime for general inquiries about the election.
What to expect at the election meeting
If you haven’t attended an Election Meeting before, here is how the evening will run:
-
- 5:00 p.m. Sign-in and member voter verification. Doors open to verify voter eligibility. Each person attending the Election Meeting in person will be verified against the List of Eligible Voters at the door, and must be checked in before 6:30 p.m. to take part in in-person voting.
- 6:00 p.m. Candidates present. Each candidate will have 10 minutes to speak. This is your opportunity to hear directly from them as they introduce themselves, share their vision, and discuss their goals for Lhoosk’uz Dené Nation.
- 6:30 p.m. Check-in closes and voting begins. In-person voters must be checked in by this time to take part in in-person voting. Voting members who attend in person will vote by show of hands.
- 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Online voting period. To vote online, visit http://www.onefeather.ca/nations/lhooskuz and click the RED button “Log in/Sign up” or “Vote Now” and follow the instructions provided. If you require assistance, please use the “HELP” button or contact OneFeather Support using the information on the website.
- 7:30 p.m. Votes are counted. Votes will be counted immediately after the voting window closes and the results of the vote will be announced.
How voting works (in-person and online)
We want voting to be accessible to everyone, no matter where you are located on election day. You can choose whichever method works best for you:
Voting In-person
If you join us at the Quesnel Seniors Centre, voting is simple: after candidate speeches conclude, in-person voting will be conducted by a show of hands as directed by the Electoral Officer.
Voting online
If you are attending virtually or not able to attend either online or in person, you may vote using OneFeather’s secure digital voting portal at www.onefeather.ca/nations/lhooskuz. You will need to log in to your existing OneFeather account or create a free, new one.
If you don’t already have a personal email address, you will have to create one first in order to create an account with OneFeather.
To start a new account, make sure you have the following handy:
- A personal email address
- Your status number
- Your date of birth
- Your Voting PIN (will be sent directly to your email)
Online voting accountability
According to the Custom Code, the voting system was selected by Council and is required to incorporate an authentication system to confirm that voters are entitled to vote in the election, and to restrict voting to one vote per elector.
Need a walkthrough?
You can download the simple Digital Voting Guide on the OneFeather website to see screenshot instructions for setting up your account.
To make your online vote easy…
If you are voting online, take a moment in advance to make sure your OneFeather account is set up properly and all your information is correct.
How votes are counted and the new Chief declared
Once voting concludes, the independent Electoral Officer will verify and combine the in-person hand counts and the secure online portal counts.
Under Section 52 of our Custom Election Code, the candidate who receives the most total votes will be declared elected as Chief.
The results will be announced live at the meeting after voting closes and published online shortly after on the Lhoosk’uz Dené Nation website. Following the election, the Chief-elect will swear or affirm the Oath of Office before officially assuming their duties.
Frequently asked questions
Q: How do I check if I’m on the Voters List?
A: You can inspect the Voters List during regular business hours at the Band Office, request a copy from the Electoral Officer Brett Bilyk, or download it directly online at www.onefeather.ca/nations/lhooskuz.
Q: What if I run into technical issues trying to vote online?
A: OneFeather’s support team is available to help! You can email voterhelp@onefeather.ca or call toll-free at 1-855-923-3006.
Q: Who can I contact if I have general questions about the election?
A: Feel free to reach out to Electoral Officer Brett Bilyk by email at brett@onefeather.ca or phone at 1-855-923-3006. You can also call the Lhoosk’uz Dené Nation administration office at 250-992-3290 or send an email to elections@lhooskuz.com.