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Coral for Chief Councillor

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Comox, BC
Coral for Chief Councillor

Proud K’ómoks member, dedicated Councillor, and passionate about our Nation's future. In 2021, I moved home to reconnect with family, community, and our lands.

I am a proud K'ómoks member and have had the honour of serving as a Councillor for the past two years. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Indigenous Studies and Public Administration from the University of Victoria earlier this year, and have been able to use my education to help strengthen our governance and advocate for our people. My focus has been on improving communication, advancing

governance through policy development, supporting infrastructure projects and planning, lifting up our youth, and promoting cultural and community connection. Together, we can build a stronger, more connected future for all K'ómoks members. G̱ilakas'la/ʔimot!

01/05/2025

Today is the day!

I am deeply honoured to be on this journey with you. Over the past two years, I've worked hard to strengthen governance, uplift our community, and support the success of our Nation. Now, I am asking for your trust to continue this important work as your Chief Councillor.

Please vote today and be part of building a stronger, more connected future for K’ómoks.

Consider who will lead our Nation with integrity, strength, respect, and a commitment to moving forward, together. Leadership is about humility, collaboration, and putting the well-being of our Nation above all else. Progress comes from working together to lift each other up and focusing on the shared vision for our future, guided by you, the members.

I am deeply grateful to the past leaders who have worked with our current Council to support our Nation, either by sharing their expertise or offering guidance. Their actions have shown what true leadership looks like: building bridges, not barriers to ensure progress continues.

G̱ilakas'la/ʔimot for your trust, your support, and your belief in what we can achieve when we work together.

VOTE IN PERSON: 9AM–8PM AT THE K’ÓMOKS HALL

01/04/2025

Election Day is tomorrow!

I'm sharing my campaign poster again as we approach this important day for K'ómoks. Over the past two years, I've worked hard to strengthen governance, support our members, and create opportunities that reflect our Nation’s values and vision.

This election is your chance to help shape the future of K’ómoks. I humbly ask for your trust and support to continue this important work as your Chief Councillor.

Please vote tomorrow, January 5, from 9AM-8PM at the K’ómoks Hall.

Together, we can move forward to build a stronger, more connected future for every K’ómoks member.

G̱ilakas'la/ʔimot

12/31/2024

As we approach this election, I’ve been reflecting on our journey as a Nation and the incredible strength of our community. Our progress is not the result of any one person. It is the collective effort of councils, staff, and community members, past and present, who have contributed their time, knowledge, and efforts for the betterment of K’ómoks.

We are here today because of these collective efforts, built on years of hard work to strengthen our Nation. True leadership is not about seeking individual recognition but is about lifting each other up, building bridges, and creating opportunities for future generations and leaders to thrive. Leadership is, and always should be, a collective effort.

Over the past two years, we’ve built on this legacy by listening to you, our members, and acting on your priorities. Your feedback has driven change and decision-making, such as expanding our administration to provide enhanced programs and services, investing in our future, strengthening governance to ensure transparency and accountability, and delivering critical infrastructure projects to meet the needs of our growing community.

I’ve seen firsthand how much we can achieve when we are truly working together. Whether it’s securing recognition for the groundbreaking work that K’ómoks has undertaken, bringing our ancestors home, enacting laws under our Land Code to protect our community, or taking steps to reclaim stewardship of our territory, every success reflects the shared vision of our community and hard work of our Nation.

Of course, we have faced challenges, and I recognize that there are differing opinions on the path forward. However, it is these differences that makes us stronger. What matters most is how we engage with these differences. Our community deserves leaders who will listen, work together, and who will always put the well-being of our Nation above their own personal interests.

I remain deeply committed to serving the Nation with transparency, respect, and a deep dedication to our people. Together, we can continue to build on the achievements of the past, meet the challenges of the present, and create a stronger, brighter future for K’ómoks.

Wishing you all a safe and peaceful New Year.

In unity,
Coral

12/30/2024

Over the past two years, I’ve had the honour of contributing to projects that have strengthened our Nation. These accomplishments represent meaningful progress for K’ómoks:

• Strengthened governance by updating key policies like the HR Policy to ensure compliance with the Canada Labour Code, and updated the Financial Administration Law (FAL), increasing financial transparency and accountability to Nation members while securing a 10-year grant. KFN received the Aboriginal Financial Officers Association (AFOA) BC Best Practices Award 2024 for a Small Nation, recognizing our Nation's commitment to financial excellence.
• Enacted structural and key laws under our Land Code to better address community safety concerns, such as trespassing and aggressive dogs.
• Completed critical infrastructure projects like the Eldersplex, Community Park, and Food Security building, addressing housing and community needs.
• Initiated long-term planning initiatives like the Housing Assessment and IR1 planning to address space and infrastructure challenges to meet current and future needs. Through these assessments, the idea is to actively involve Nation members in planning for the future to ensure your voices shape solutions that reflect our vision and priorities.
• Advocated for the full implementation of our Local Education Agreement (LEA), increased post-secondary living allowances, updated education policies, and established a bursary program.
• Supported administrative capacity by establishing new roles and ensuring there were full-time roles for Elders, Youth, and a Communications Coordinator to better meet the needs of our community. This growth has been guided by your feedback, including requests for enhanced programs and services, as well as the low letter grades received by the administration in the annual well-being surveys.
• Our accumulated surplus reached $78.8M, reflecting strong financial management and a solid foundation for future growth.
• Invested in our future by signing onto the La-kwa sa muqw forestry partnership, and submitted applications for Addition to Reserve (ATR) to expand our reserve lands.
• Celebrated milestones like the initialing of our treaty and the appointment of our Justice of the Peace under Land Code.
• Advocated for the protection of our cultural heritage through our CHIPs, and worked with local governments to provide education.

These achievements reflect my commitment to addressing immediate priorities while planning ahead for long-term success. While we have made progress, there is still work to be done. I am dedicated to leading our Nation with transparency, respect, and a deep commitment to our people.

Together, we can continue to build on this progress and create a stronger future for K’ómoks.

12/28/2024

I hope everyone had a safe and peaceful Christmas spent with loved ones. As we approach the election, I want to share the key priorities that guide my vision for K’ómoks. These priorities are informed by the conversations I’ve had with many of you as well as key guiding documents like the Comprehensive Community Plan (CCP) and well-being surveys.

Moving beyond the Indian Act is critical to our Nation’s journey toward self-governance. If the treaty is ratified this spring, I am committed to ensuring that members are well-informed, our interests are upheld, and that implementation is an efficient process. If the treaty is not ratified, I will work with our people to determine the next steps and explore how we can achieve forms of self-government and economic prosperity without a treaty if that is what our community chooses.

Every member should directly benefit from our Nation’s successes. I am committed to ensuring that programs and services are well-resourced and that members receive benefits, such as annual distributions through clearly defined policy. I will also prioritize providing clear and accessible financial reports so members can see how resources are being used to serve our community.

Creating safe and welcoming spaces is essential. By addressing issues like trespassing, dangerous dogs, environmental concerns, and unsafe properties through our Justice of the Peace under Land Code, we can create a safer and more connected community. Additionally, increasing resources for health, well-being, and community initiatives will help promote connection and healing.

Whether living on our homelands or away, every member should have opportunities to connect to our cultures. This includes promoting cultural programs, events, and initiatives and creating online platforms for language, teachings, and storytelling. For members living away from home, I am committed to expanding outreach efforts to ensure everyone feels included in practicing our cultures.

Open communication and transparency are the foundation of good governance. I am committed to holding open, regular council meetings, providing accessible updates, and creating opportunities for members to share their input to ensure that every voice helps shape our Nation’s future.

Let’s continue this important work together.

12/18/2024

I believe that respect and dignity are the foundation of a strong community. That is why I stand firmly against bullying, lateral violence, and divisive politics. These behaviours only work to tear our community apart when we should be lifting each other up.

As a leader, I prioritize:

•Listening to all voices and perspectives to ensure members feel heard, valued, and respected.
•Addressing issues head on with transparency and care, even when the conversations are difficult.
•Building trust and unity because we are always stronger together.

We need to keep moving forward, building on the important work we are doing today to create the future we want. A future that celebrates our values, promotes collaboration, healing, and hope for every K’ómoks member.

As we approach this election, I ask that you carefully consider who you will vote for. There are so many amazing candidates to choose from, and it’s important to reflect on the leadership qualities that will best support our Nation. Our Nation needs leaders who bring a balance of experience, compassion, strength, honesty, and a genuine commitment to building unity.

12/16/2024

I grew up on-reserve and was raised by my late mother, Cindy Hardy. Life wasn’t always easy, but I always knew where I was from. That sense of belonging has carried me through many challenges in my life and ultimately brought me home.

Like many families, ours has experienced intergenerational trauma and struggles with addiction. These experiences have shaped who I am today and my commitment to healing and moving forward. Not just for myself, but for our Nation. This October, I celebrated 8 years of sobriety, which has been one of my proudest accomplishments.

In April, I became the first in my immediate family to graduate from university. For me, graduating wasn’t just about earning a degree. It was about honouring my family, my ancestors, and everyone who has worked hard to break cycles.

As a leader, I bring values of resilience, determination, and hope into everything I do. I believe that building a stronger future for our Nation starts with creating opportunities for every member to thrive—whether it’s through education, housing, health, or culture. I am committed to continuing this work and ensuring that every K’ómoks member feels heard, valued, and supported as we move forward together.

12/13/2024

I’m excited to share my campaign poster with you all! It highlights my vision, priorities, and commitment to building a stronger future for K'ómoks.

As we move forward in this election, I’m grateful for your support and the opportunity to connect and discuss what matters most to our Nation.

Please reach out if you have any questions, or would just like to connect.

G̱ilakas'la/ʔimot

12/11/2024

I am running for Chief Councillor because I believe that together, we can build a stronger future for all K’ómoks members.

Over the past two years, I have had the honour of contributing to initiatives that strengthen our Nation and address challenges effectively. Strengthening our governance has been a key focus of my work as a Councillor:

Amended the HR Policy to ensure KFN’s compliance with the Canada Labour Code, particularly around workplace violence and harassment.
Approved a comprehensive Governance Policy that includes a ‘whistleblower’ clause to hold leaders accountable and help clarify roles and responsibilities.
Updated the Financial Administration Law (FAL) and implemented 13 FAL-related policies and procedures to secure a 10-year grant.
Passed key laws, including the Summary Offence, Order Review, Animal Control, and the Trespass, Residence, and Access Law.
Appointed our first Justice of the Peace under Land Code to address enforcement gaps on our reserve.

We were happy to complete the Eldersplex, Food Security building, and Community Park, and initiated long-term planning to address space and infrastructure challenges through a Housing Needs Assessment, Upper IR #1 Planning work, and Land Acquisition Strategy.

We were happy to support our students and youth by updating the Post-Secondary Funding Policy, increasing living allowances, and creating more opportunities through enhanced programming and resources.

We invested in our future and signed onto the La-kwa sa muqw forestry partnership, as well as submitted Addition to Reserve (ATR) applications to expand our reserve lands, supporting future growth, economic opportunities, and member benefits.

We supported the health of our Nation by approving the Health and Wellness Plan, which identifies gaps, guides decision-making and resource allocation, and strengthens supports for our members. Additionally, the Nation secured $1.5 million in funding to upgrade the trail to improve safety and accessibility.

We built capacity by supporting the growth of the administration and ensured there were full-time roles for Elders, Youth, and Communications, and created new roles without relying heavily on own-source revenue (OSR).

Additionally, we celebrated a huge milestone with the initialing of our treaty and negotiated an improved fisheries offer with the support of Richard Hardy. We also joined the Great Bear Sea Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) initiative, which will bring in long-term funding for our Guardians and support the protection of our lands and waters.

I am proud of these accomplishments, but there is more work to do. As we navigate important decisions like the treaty vote, we need strong leadership to move us beyond the Indian Act, advance self-government, and ensure that all members benefit from our Nation’s successes. I am committed to leading our Nation with transparency, respect, and a dedication to our people—always in the best interests of all K’ómoks members.

G̱ilakas'la/ʔimot,
Coral Mackay

12/09/2024

I am excited to share my campaign letter with you as I seek your support for the position of Chief Councillor in the upcoming election on January 5, 2025. This letter reflects my experience, values, and vision for our Nation.

I look forward to connecting with you and hearing your thoughts, concerns, hopes, and dreams as we build a stronger future together.

Address

K'ómoks First Nation
Comox, BC

Website

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