An award-winning journalist found that she couldn’t simply report on issues facing northern First Nations, so she ran for grand chief of the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak – and won.
Sheila North Wilson, originally from the Bunibonibee Cree Nation, was elected to the position at a general assembly in Nelson House Sept. 2.
“I felt that I knew the issues far too well not to do my part in addressing some of them,” she said. “Working in the media, but also growing up in the North, I’ve come to know a lot of the concerns that our First Nations have and I felt that I had to help.”
The MKO is a political advocacy organization that represents 30 First Nation communities in Northern Manitoba. The grand chief is elected with the votes of the chiefs, headmen and councillors of the member First Nations. Also running for the position were incumbent David Harper, Tyler Duncan and William Elvis Thomas. The first candidate to get more than 50 per cent of the total vote wins; North Wilson won with 74 votes out of a total 132 on the second ballot.
North Wilson ran on a platform based on four
major areas.
One of those focused on empowering families. One of the ways she’d like to do that is by keeping them together through the Child and Family Services system instead of separating them.
“Studies have shown that CFS and separating families doesn’t improve lives, so we need to find different solutions and different ways of helping families that are in need or in trouble,” she said.
She also wants to keep – and enhance – the Band constable program, as it helps fill a need in keeping people safe and push for an inquiry on missing Indigenous women – and men.
Treaty implementation was another area. North Wilson said she wants to get negotiations moving for MKO’s member nations.
“MKO is not a rights holder but we can help with the ongoing work with implementation and also the enforcement of treaties,” she said.
North Wilson’s third campaign focus was increasing economic independence and looking a new ways at doing that, either through social enterprises or with new partners to support that’s been done.
The remaining focus is ensuring good governance at the MKO. Reviewing governance is North Wilson’s first priority as grand chief.
“The first thing I want to do is look at the governance system that’s in place and do a review of the finances and see what’s working and what’s not, what’s helping and what’s impeding progress,” she said. “We should get a handle on that and go from there.”
When North Wilson found out she had won, she said she felt happy, relived and encouraged.
“I felt so proud of our people and our leaders for taking a bold step and calling for change. They don’t want to be reaching the status quo and do everything they’ve already done, they want to move forward and advance,” she said. “I’m very happy to be part of this change and when I heard I won the election I had to take a moment to savour it because I did feel the historic significance of it but also I felt a great responsibility and I’m up for the challenge.”
North Wilson is also the first female grand chief in the MKO’s 34-year history.
“People are excited about the fact that I am the first female Grand Chief of MKO. People are happy about that – and so am I – but that wasn’t my intention to run and be that,” she said. “I just wanted to help and be here to help our communities.
