CHIEF & COUNCIL
The W̱JOȽEȽP Band’s Leadership consists of elected members of the community that make up the Chief and Council.
Elections are currently held every four years, with the most recent election having been held in December 2025. The Current leadership are:
Chief: Curtis Olsen
Council:
- Lawrence Bartleman
- Gord Elliott
- Verna Ellsworth
- Leo William Morris
- Rhiannon Olsen
- Chris Paul
- Adam Sampson
- Joe Seward
- Philip (ĆILTEN) Tom
Chief
Curtis Olsen
Councillor
Lawrence Bartleman
Councillor
Gordon Elliott
Councillor
Verna Ellsworth
Councillor
William Leo Morris
Councillor
Rhiannon Olsen
Councillor
Chris Paul
Councillor
Adam Sampson
Councillor
Joe Seward
Councillor
Philip Tom
Á,LEṈENEȻ ȽTE – OUR HOMELAND
The W̱SÁNEĆ People are Salt Water People. The Sea was very important to our way of life. Traditionally the W̱SÁNEĆ People had homes throughout the San Juan Islands and on the east and north coasts of the Saanich Peninsula.
Our land went east through the Gulf Islands and San Juan Islands and northeast across Georgia Strait to Boundary Bay. Our territory included the Saanich Inlet and deep into the forest lands on its west side. On the Saanich Peninsula itself, our land went south as far as PKOLS (Mount Douglas), and from there across to W̱QENNELEȽ (Mt. Finlayson) and SELE₭TEȽ (Goldstream).
W̱SÁNEĆ (Saanich Peninsula) was the headquarters because this is where the W̱SÁNEĆ People built their permanent winter homes.
W̱JOȽEȽP GALLERY
