Although he is still young, 24-year-old Bryce Williams knows a great deal about leadership. He is the elected Chief of the Tsawwassen First Nation

(TFN). The TFN treaty went into effect in April 2009, making the TFN the first urban self-governed nation in British Columbia. While this opened up enormous opportunities for economic development, it also raised concerns about cultural maintenance. Bryce William’s commitment to balance led to his election as Chief in 2012. Asked about his surprise win against older and more experienced candidates, Williams replied, “I think my people-first mentality is a big part of getting elected—and being involved with the community quite often and having that want and need to strengthen the culture.”

Bryce Williams has the credibility that comes from being directly involved in cultural maintenance himself. As an elected leader, he strives to foster the creation of “culture-bearers” by supporting traditional arts such as weaving, dancing, singing, and carving. Williams himself is a talented carver who teaches Coast Salish art to children in his community. This contact makes him accessible to local children and youth. Peggy McCleod, who facilitates the classes, says “having that time the way they do every week, with one of the leaders, I think really goes a long way to speak to how valued they [the children] are.” As for Williams, his perspective is very straightforward. “Part of being a Haida artist or a Coast Salish artist is being willing to pass on those traditions. It uplifts me to be able to pass along some of that knowledge.”

Williams’s cultural support is carried out in a way that also leads to economic opportunity. For example, in January 2014 the TFN broke ground on two new destination shopping malls on Tsawwassen land.

These mega malls will not only generate profits for the band, they also help provide a forum for the display and sale of traditional arts products.

“Obviously it’s good to keep the culture alive, but you can’t host programs and services when you don’t have money to move those things forward, so they’re both very important,” observes Williams.

When asked about what traits a chief should have, Bryce Williams says that a leader is someone who can be the “voice of the people.” He doesn’t mean being loud or opinionated. In fact, during his nation’s legislative assembly he is often silent, even in tense debates. He is listening, carefully absorbing everyone’s viewpoint and perspective. Some recall that prior chiefs had a different style, getting more involved and advocating strongly for one side of a debate. Steven Stark, a member of legislature, observed: “Bryce is conservative. He watches. He is quiet but he uses his words wisely. He has that open ear.” Listening carefully helps Williams find mutually beneficial solutions to problems. For example, when discussing a dispute with a local municipality over sewer lines he said that “there has to be relationship building there and we just have to find a way to work together so that we can find ways to benefit all of our communities.”

Sources: P. Holdsworth and E. Riva-Guerra, “Young B.C. Chief Balances Major Development with Tradition,” CBC News, April 23, 2014, http://www.cbc.ca/news/aboriginal/young-b-c-chiefbalances-

major-development-with-tradition-1.2618187; Staff reporter, “Construction of Tsawwassen First Nation Mega Mall Begins,” CBC News, January 24, 2014, http://www.cbc.ca/

news/canada/british-columbia/construction-of-tsawwassen-first-nation-mega-malls-begins-

1.2510438; K. Hilderman, “Chief Bryce Williams, Tsawwassen First Nation,” BC Business, July 2, 2013, http://www.bcbusiness.ca/people/chief-bryce-williams-tsawwassen-first-nation.

Discussion Questions 

1. How would you characterize Bryce Williams’s leadership style or styles? Justify your answer. Remember that he may be combining styles or exhibiting varied styles at different times or in different contexts.

2. Is Bryce’s leadership style or styles suitable for the context that he is working in? Justify your answer.

3. Describe two jobs/scenarios in which Bryce’s current primary leadership style would likely be ineffective. Explain your answer.