On June 8th, Andy Jimmie of Minto was elected as the new Second Traditional Chief of the Tanana Chiefs Conference region at the Denakkanaaga Elders & Youth Conference in Fairbanks. The role of a Traditional Chief is a life-long role that serves as an ambassador of traditional knowledge and the Athabascan culture. TCC’s previous Second Traditional Chief, Trimble Gilbert assumed the role of First Traditional Chief last year after the passing of First Traditional Chief Don Honea Sr.
After the announcement, attendees broke into traditional drumming and dancing in celebration of the new Second Traditional Chief. Afterward, Andy addressed the delegates in a short acceptance speech.
“I wish we can hold on to our traditional way of life the way our grandfather’s grandmothers taught us. I always remember what David Salmon told me, If we don’t tell them, our younger people, they will never know. So it’s our job, all of us, to tell our grandkids or kids how it used to be…Then we’ll go from there.”
Nominations of candidates were sent to the Denakkanaaga Board who had developed written criteria for the role and required nominees to undergo a background check. The criteria developed specified that nominees must be age 70 or older and that either a man or woman could hold the position. Nomination forms were shared with Tribal Councils and Tribal Leaders prior to the meeting.
“These decisions are very important because the role of Traditional Chief is a lifetime role,” explains Sharon McConnell, Executive Director of Denakkanaaga, “Both our Second and First Traditional Chief are well respected and will be great mentors for our region.”
There were four candidates running for the role of Second Traditional Chief- Andy Jimmie of Minto, Anna Frank of Minto, Benedict Jones of Koyukuk and Mary Rose Agnes of Kaltag. Denakkanaaga Board Members, the First Traditional Chief and Delegates from throughout the region were able to vote on their preferred candidate – with Andy Jimmie winning on the first round with the majority vote.
Next year, Denakkanaaga hopes to hold the Elders and Youth Conference in Huslia, where it was originally supposed to be held in 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic.