INUVIK
Two months isn't a very long time, but the wait has certainly been long enough for the newly elected Gwich'in Tribal Council executives.

Gwich'in Tribal Council President Bobbie Jo Greenland-Morgan is sworn in at the annual general assembly the morning of Aug. 24 at East Three School. - Sarah Ladik/NNSL photo

President Bobbie Jo Greenland-Morgan and vice-president Jordan Peterson took office Aug. 23 on the first day of the council's annual general assembly, a first for the organization, Greenland-Morgan said.

"To my knowledge, no executive has been sworn in at the assembly," she said.

"It's appropriate though - our oath is to the people, and we have a lot of people who wanted to attend."

The transition period was also somewhat of a first, with the organization taking the time to craft reports and briefing notes on all kinds of files, which were largely presented to the incoming executive earlier this month.

While the majority of people have been supportive, Greenland-Morgan said her time travelling to various communities has also turned up some interesting interactions.

"It's interesting that Jordan and I haven't even started the job yet and there's already negativity about us," she said earlier in August.

Still, she said that overall many people have come forward to give advice.

"A lot of people have been great, too," she said. "We really got to see who our main support is, and we really got to see who meant what they said during the election campaign."

One of the highlights, she said, was the chance she found to bond with elders and past leaders of the organization. As the first woman elected to executive office for the council, Greenland-Morgan hopes to usher in change, but also a return to traditional Gwich'in values.

Peterson also has a claim to fame as the youngest person elected to executive office at the Gwich'in Tribal Council. He said that while some people asked him why he didn't focus more on that during the campaign, he feels that his work with youth in the community speaks for itself.

"I'm really looking forward to taking office," he told the Drum.

"I want to begin making sure we all move forward with one voice."

Peterson praised the council staff for their work preparing for the transition and said that, despite the vast amount of information to absorb, he felt confident in his capacity.

"I'm not nervous," he said.

"I was until the day after the election, but I'm good now. I think I have what it takes."

While Peterson spent some of the time since the election travelling in the Yukon and Alaska creating links with Gwich'in groups there, Greenland-Morgan said she has spent time in communities closer to home. She said she feels re-energized as a result and is looking forward to taking office.

"There is so much division in our community," she said.

"We're trying to focus on the positives, the good changes we can do."

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