The new chief of the Lower Nicola Indian Band says he’s excited to hit the ground running in his new role.

Stuart Jackson was elected chief on Saturday – after 15 consecutive years as a councillor.

He received 147 votes and edged out the next-closest chief candidate by 18 votes.

“There’s a lot going on, and the phone has been buzzing. It’s an exciting time for myself, but it’s also an exciting time for the newly-elected council, and more important I think it’s an exciting time for our community,” he says. “I’m looking forward to the challenge, working with this new council and engaging with the community. My goal is to make the community a better place for all of our members.”

The former chief of six years, Aaron Sumexheltza, was one of seven councillors also elected on Saturday.

Trans Mountain Pipeline Plan

Meanwhile, Jackson says the new council will have to come together and take a look at the agreement with Trans-Mountain for the pipeline expansion.

“That’s one issue that remains contentious in our community. The agreement has been signed, but there’s some unhappy community members, that’s for sure. We definitely need to take a look at the language in that agreement.”

LNIB members passed a conditional agreement for the pipeline in 2017 before an agreement with Trans Mountain was finalized last month.

“Gateway 286” Still in the Queue

There’s no firm timeline yet for a high-profile piece of land off the Coquihalla near Merritt to switch hands.

The province and the five bands in the Nicola Valley signed an agreement eight months ago to transfer the former rest stop property off Exit 286, which is currently Crown land.

“There’s nothing I can really say at this point for that. I did take part in a meeting where I was able to speak with three of the chiefs from the valley, that topic was brought up, and that’s something the chiefs are willing to sit down with me and talk about,” Jackson says.

The 25-acre piece of land is expected to eventually be redeveloped for commercial business, and a cultural centre is also expected to be included.