CalgaryEllery Starlight, an Indigenous rights advocate, has been elected to serve a three-year term.Indigenous rights advocate elected to serve 3-year termRukhsar Ali · CBC News · Posted: Nov 21, 2025 4:42 PM EST | Last Updated: November 22Listen to this articleEstimated 2 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Ellery Starlight, shown here in 2022, has been elected head chief of Tsuut’ina Nation. (Oseremen Irete/CBC)Ellery Starlight has been elected as the new head chief of Tsuut’ina Nation.Winning with 300 votes, Starlight took to social media Friday morning to thank his fellow candidates and the community’s previous leadership, and address Tsuut’ina Nation.”I believe in you and I will do my best to serve you with all the knowledge, wisdom, courage and traditions you have given me. I can never do it alone. We need your help,” he wrote.”Tsuut’ina expects nothing but the best from us. We will prevail and become stronger.”Starlight has been a vocal advocate for Indigenous rights and played a major role in establishing the Peacemaker Court in Tsuut’ina Nation in 2000. He previously served as a member of the Tsuut’ina Nation Council.Then-prime minister Justin Trudeau, right, has his headdress adjusted by Ellery Starlight after receiving it in a ceremony while visiting the Tsuut’ina First Nation near Calgary on March 4, 2016. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)Incumbent chief Roy Whitney failed in his bid for re-election. Whitney was charged with sexual assault in August in relation to alleged offences against two men decades ago. In a written statement at the time, Whitney said he “unequivocally” denies the allegations, which he described as “unfounded.”Twelve minor chiefs were also elected Friday. They are Waylon Big Plume, Jeanne Crowchild, Hine Crowchild, Zachary Manywounds, Twylla Starlight, LeeRoy Meguinis, Tyson Heavenfire, Kendall Jacobs, Paula Big Plume, Kelsey Big Plume, Corrine Eagletail and Paul Whitney.The elected members will serve for three years.ABOUT THE AUTHORRukhsar Ali is a multiplatform reporter with CBC Calgary. She has previously reported for The Globe and Mail, CTV News and Global News, as well as produced on CBC Radio’s Cross Country Checkup and Just Asking. Rukhsar was a 2023 recipient of the CBC Joan Donaldson Scholarship and holds a Master of Journalism from Carleton University. Want to share a story tip? You can reach her at rukhsar.ali@cbc.ca.Follow her on X
Ellery Starlight elected new head chief of Tsuut’ina Nation
