Beardy elected Ontario regional chief

Stan Beardy has been elected Ontario’s regional chief.
Beardy beat incumbent Regional Chief Angus Toulouse, of Sagamok Anishinawbek First Nation, in the second round of voting on June 28, earning 59 votes compared to Toulouse’s 53.
The third candidate, Joseph Gilbert of Walpole Island First Nation, was out after the first round of voting.
Beardy has been Grand Chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) for the past 12 years, winning four straight terms.
He was born and raised on a trap line at Bearskin Lake First Nation, before leaving home to attend high school and college and work as a welder-fitter in Thunder Bay. In order to return to a traditional lifestyle of living off the land, Beardy moved to Muskrat Dam First Nation where he was elected and served as chief for 10 years before embarking on his time at NAN.
In a Wawatay News interview during the regional chief campaign, Beardy said that the issues and opportunities facing northern Ontario should guide all Ontario First Nations over the coming years.
“When you look at today’s scenarios in terms of economics, northern Ontario in general is where the greatest opportunities are in terms of resource extraction,” Beardy said on June 14. “At the same time you talk about the lack of budgets, social services cutbacks and the lack of capital infrastructure, we’re the ones with the biggest challenges.”
Beardy said he would like to see northern and southern Ontario First Nations work together on developing the north, so all First Nations in the province can realize the benefit of the resource boom in northern Ontario.
The regional chief of Ontario represents 133 First Nations across Ontario on issues of regional, provincial and national importance to First Nation people.