Long Plain First Nation chose its first female boss from the 1970s, only the second woman to hold the top leadership role in the community.
Keira Wilson, 35, received the most votes in the community’s general election on April 14, according to unofficial results published online on Saturday. Official figures are expected to be released next week.
Wilson, a therapist and former social worker, said she was honored and impressed by the support she received from people in the community, about 95 miles west of Winnipeg, for her leadership.
During the election process, Wilson said, she was focused on the future, but never lost sight of the past – including the trail of Marlene Peters, the only woman previously elected head of Long Plain.
“I’m just so happy and so grateful for her and the work she’s done,” Wilson said.
And with an 11-year-old daughter at home, choosing a role brings new meaning.
“It makes me feel really emotional to think that I can not only inspire my daughter, but also inspire a lot of young people,” she said.
“There is always this opportunity for them to be part of this leadership and they just have to be given this mentorship, as I was given. And so I see my role is to elevate our youth and inspire them to feel hopeful. “
That mentorship included guidance from his outgoing Long Plain boss Dennis Mitch, who nominated Wilson to run after he announced last winter that he would not run for re-election after serving two decades.
The mother is her biggest supporter
Perhaps Wilson’s biggest supporter was her mother, Diane Roulette, who is Ojibway of Long Plain and a “very proud mother” on Saturday.
“I have always told my daughter that I will support her 100 percent in everything she wants to do, whatever she wants to be, in everything – that I will always be her fan-1 and her supporter-1,” Roulette said.
“And I will do it as long as I have air in my lungs and as long as my heart beats, I will always be here for her.”
Wilson, who ran in the 2016 Manitoba provincial election, has long been involved in politics, growing up with a father who is a Cree-Métis politician based in Saskatchewan.
She says she hopes to use her new role to improve services in her home community, including education, healthcare and other important services.
Meeting with a new council
But first, she looks forward to meeting incoming members of the First Nation Council and connecting with people in the community.
“There will be so many different areas to work on, but we will just deal with it one day and make sure we meet every need of every member of the group,” she said Saturday.
“At the end of the day, we are from the same community and I will work hard for each person. It doesn’t matter … who you supported. The important thing is that we take care of each other and I will do my best to stand up and work hard for each person. “
Wilson was among seven candidates, including two other women running for chief. David Mitches finished second and Marcia Asiniboin finished third, according to unofficial results.
Alan Dennis Miran, Keeley Asiniboin, Marvin Daniels and Garnett Mitch were elected to the board.
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