New chair elected to CSKT tribal council
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News from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
PABLO – Ron Trahan, who has served on the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council for a total of 14 years, was elected chairman on Friday, Jan. 5.
Trahan had served as chairman once before in 2014. The previous chairman was Vernon Finley.
On Friday, five members of council were sworn in including incumbents Shelly Fyant, Len Two Teeth, Carole Lankford and, returning to a council seat, past chairman, James Steele, Jr. Also joining council is Charmel Gillin.
Trahan grew up in St. Ignatius, served in the U.S. Army, worked with Tribal Health, the Salish Kootenai Housing Authority and Kicking Horse Job Corp before joining council from 2000 to 2008 and 2012 to today.
Leonard Gray, from the Hot Springs District, was voted in as Vice Chair. Gray worked 13 years in CSKT’s Probation, Prosecutors and Defender’s office before joining council in 2012.
Troy Felsman, Arlee District, will serve as secretary and Anita Matt, Dixon district, will serve as treasurer.
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ Tribal Council members serve four-year terms. Every two years, five are up for re-election. Tribal officers are selected every two years at the January quarterly meeting.
