Haisla Nation Chief Councillor Crystal Smith will not seek re-election in the upcoming July 14 vote, bringing to a close 12 years on council, including the past eight as the Nation’s elected Chief.
Smith confirmed her decision in an interview, citing a need to focus on her family and begin building financial security after more than a decade in public service.
“I haven’t contributed to a pension in 12 years, and I’m getting older,” she said. “I didn’t see any changes to that coming soon. I also have two young grandsons, and I need to be able to put their needs ahead of the Nation’s.”
Smith was first elected to council in 2013 and became Chief Councillor in 2016. Her time in leadership coincided with major economic developments for the Nation, including the 2018 Final Investment Decision for LNG Canada and, more recently, the June 2024 decision to proceed with Cedar LNG — a project led and majority-owned by Haisla Nation.
While those milestones attracted national attention, Smith said she is equally proud of work that received less recognition — particularly the creation of a dedicated culture and language department.
“We’ve invested a lot of our own-source revenue into building this department — around 15 to 20 employees — entirely focused on Haisla culture and language,” she said. “They work closely with our fluent speakers to make sure future generations can learn and reclaim their identity.”
During Smith’s time in office, Haisla Nation also experienced a period of closer relations with the District of Kitimat. She credited that to aligned priorities between her administration and that of Mayor Phil Germuth, particularly around support for LNG development.
“There was strong cooperation under our tenures,” Smith said. “We had aligned goals, and we maintained open communication — even during difficult issues.”
She said the relationship has slightly cooled, in part due to diverging positions, including Kitimat council’s refusal of Haisla Nation’s request to rename two streets currently honouring missionaries associated with residential schools.
“I’m proud of our ability and willingness to work with outside entities that can help us improve the quality of life for our people,” Smith said. “And I believe the relationship with the District of Kitimat is essential.
With an estimated 300 to 400 Haisla members living in the District, Smith said cooperation must be restored.
“I think the relationship needs a reset — a restart,” she said. “That means aligning goals, improving communication, and really understanding where this process kind of fell apart.”
Looking ahead, Smith said Haisla Nation faces challenges — both internally and externally. She pointed to global geopolitical shifts as a real concern.
“We’re positioned on the coast with a deep-sea port. That means decisions made far away can have a direct impact on us.”
Internally, Smith said the Nation must also prepare for a major turnover in council experience.
“There’s about three of us — probably a collective of about 40 years of corporate knowledge and experience — that decided not to run in this election,” she said. “Everybody that’s running, and everybody that is elected, aside from five still remaining, has two years or less experience at the table.”
She said having a strong, knowledgeable staff in place will be critical to supporting and guiding the new council through that transition.
Smith also offered advice to her successor: to lead with a collective mindset and to centre the needs of the Nation above all else.
“There shouldn’t be any self-serving thoughts that come into mind,” she said. “You’re elected on behalf of 2,000 Haisla members, regardless of where they reside. They deserve leadership that puts the community first.”
Though stepping away from elected office, Smith said her connection to the Nation remains strong.
The Haisla Nation election on July 14 will fill one Chief Councillor and five Councillor positions for a four-year term. The process will follow the Haisla Nation Custom Election Code, adopted in 2021.
