On December 11, 2023 Wilfred Cootes will become the new Chief Councillor for the Uchucklesaht Tribe Government. Before becoming the elected Chief Councillor Wilfred was elected in two separate elections since 2013 to the Uchucklesaht Tribe Governments Legislature as a Councillor and in each of those governments was voted on by the Legislature to hold the Lands and Resources Executive position. Wilfred is also the Uchucklesaht’s Board member for the Alliance of BC Treaty Nations, and the National Land Claims Agreement Coalition.

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Since 2014 Wilfred Cootes has served as the Uchucklesaht Tribe Governments Board member on the Alberni Clayoquot Regional District. Wilfred Currently sits as a Board member on: Thunderbird Spirit Ventures Inc., Uchucklesaht Forestry Ventures Inc., Uchucklesaht Water Ventures Inc., and Uchucklesaht Cannabis Ventures Inc. Separately, Wilfred also is one of the founding Board members of the Indigenous Coastal Waters Society where he is the Vice-President.