SF Tlingit & Haida holds elections every even numbered year in accordance with the Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Tlingit & Haida) Rules of Election.
Delegates and Council Members
Delegates represent the local San Francisco Tlingit & Haida Community at the annual Tribal Assembly held in Alaska. Tribal Assembly is typically held in Juneau, but can be held in other communities on non-election years.
Responsibilities of Delegates
Tribal Assembly is usually a 3-day event where delegates:
- elect Executive Council members (in election years)
- elect the Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Tribal Court
- elect the Emerging Leader
- propose resolutions (prior to the start of Assembly)
- meet in committees to discuss resolutions, offer amendments of their text, and or recommend their passing or failing
- vote on resolutions
- listen and respond to several reports and addresses including:
- State of the Tribe Address
- State of Alaska Address
- CFO Report
- COO Report
- Audit Committee Report
- Tlingit & Haida Tribal Business Corporation Report
- Emerging Leader Report
- Introduction of the Budget
- Standing Committee Reports
- Tribal Court Report
It is typically held on the third week of April, unless Easter falls on that week (in which case it is held on the fourth week in April). It is held on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of that week.
Recently, assembly has occurred virtually in a 1 day event or 3 half days due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Documents Related to Elections
Election documents are available on Tlingit & Haida’s website.
Please check to be sure that you are on the official voting list prior to the start of nominations.
Timeline for Elections
Below is an approximate timeline of deadlines for the delegate election process. For exact dates please visit the Central Council Delegate Elections page.
| Date | Election Item | Rule of Order Reference |
| 11/3/23 | Notice of Enrollment | Rule 8, Section 1 |
| 1/5/24 | Notice of Election | Rule 8, Section 2 |
| 1/5/24 | Post Official Voting List | Rule 7, Section 1 |
| 1/19/24 | Apportionment of Delegates | Rule 3, Section 2 |
| 1/26/24 | Intent to Serve Form Available | Rule 9, Section 1A |
| 1/26/24 | Nominations Open | Rule 9, Section 2A |
| 2/9/24 | Nominations Close | Rule 9, Section 2A |
| 2/12/24 | Official Candidate List | Rule 8, Section 2E |
| 2/23/24 | Voter/Ballot Information Mailed | Rule 8, Section 2F |
| 2/23/24 | Voting Opens | Rule 8, Section 2B |
| 3/21/24 | Election Day | Constitution |
| 3/22/24 | Unofficial Results | Rule 11, Section 1 |
| 3/25/24 | Election Challenge Deadline | Rule 13, Section 1A1 |
| 3/26/24 | President Appoints Challenge Committee | Rule 13, Section 2 |
| 4/4/24 | “Write In” Candidate DOJS Form Submission | Rule 9, Section 3A |
Council Elections
The San Francisco Tlingit & Haida Community Council holds elections for all 7 of its positions biennially. The positions are President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and three Trustees.
All SF T&H community members are eligible to run for any position. The same person may be elected to the positions of Secretary and Treasurer.
Council Members are elected by the full voting community. Officers are then elected by the Council Members chosen by the community.
Official Voting List
Please check to be sure that you are on the official voting list. The most up to date version is on Tlingit & Haida’s website.
Duties of Officers
- President – The President of the Community Council shall be its chief executive officer and the chief executive officer of the Community. He or she shall preside over all meetings of the Community Council, and, subject to its direction, conduct and manage the business of the Community, execute documents for and on behalf of the Community Council and the Community, be a member ex officio of all committees of the Community Council and Community, and exercise such other powers as may be delegated to him or her. He or she may delegate authority to others to perform functions and exercise powers of his or her office, and appoint committees to assist the Community Council or the President in the performance of their functions.
- Vice President – The Vice-President shall assist the President when called upon to do so. In the absence of the President from a meeting of the Community Council, the Vice-President shall preside. When the President is temporarily disabled, or absent from the Community and unavailable, the Vice-President shall act as President. All correspondence shall be approved by the President prior to release.
- Secretary – The Secretary shall keep an accurate record of all actions taken and business conducted by the Community Council and conduct its correspondence. He or she shall promptly transmit copies of all minutes of meetings and resolutions of the Community Council to the President of the Central Council or his or her delegate, and attest the signature of the President or other authorized officer on legal documents executed for or on behalf of the Community Council or the Community.
- Newsletter Secretary – The Newsletter Secretary shall send out proper notices of all called meetings, and serve as Chairperson of the Newsletter Committee.
- Treasurer – The Treasurer shall accept, receive, receipt for, preserve and safeguard all funds in the possession of the Community Council or the Community. He or she shall deposit all such funds in such depositories as the Community Council shall direct and keep adequate and accurate records of the same. He or she shall report on all receipts and disbursements and on the amount and nature of all such funds at each meeting of the Community Council and at such other times as requested by the President. He or she shall not pay out or disburse any funds except as authorized by the Community Council. All disbursements must be signed by one of the following persons: President, Vice-President or Treasurer. The Community Council may at any time make such further provisions concerning funds in its possession or custody as it deems necessary or desirable for their safety and proper use.
- Trustee/Member At Large – Has voting rights. Duties to be determined based on individual’s skills and abilities.
Committees
Once elected, Council Members may volunteer for, or be appointed to, any number of committees. Committees may include:
- Local Election Committee
- Social Committee(s)
- Newsletter Committee
- Finance Committee
- Audit Committee
- Enrollment person