GRASSY NARROWS – The chief of a First Nation in Northwestern Ontario has come forward as a candidate for Ontario Regional Chief.
Rudy Turtle, in his fourth year as chief of Grassy Narrows (Asubpeeschoseewagong), is one of several candidates for the top spot in the Chiefs of Ontario.
“Some chiefs have asked me to run and I said yes, I’ll do it,” he said in an interview from his Ojibwe community northeast of Kenora.
Turtle said the current regional chief, Glen Hare, has done an inadequate job in advocacy.
Hare was invited to speak at a Land Defence Alliance rally last September in Queen’s Park and “failed to show up,” Turtle said.
There were other occasions when the regional chief didn’t show his support, he added.
“I want to be able to make sure that I advocate for different communities, the different reserves, and I do have the ability to speak up in public and speak to government,” he said.
“And so I would like to represent the bands more from the grassroots level.
“The time has come for the Chiefs of Ontario to lead the way with strong political advocacy. That is why I am running for regional chief, because we cannot afford to wait for change,” said Turtle.
Grassy Narrows is a founding member of the Land Defence Alliance, a coalition of First Nations working together to restore control of their land.
Hare, from M’Chigeeng on Manitoulin Island, is seeking another term as regional chief.
As well, there are two other candidates from Northern Ontario: Travis Boissoneau and Dean Sayers of Garden River and Batchewana, respectively. Both First Nations are near Sault Ste. Marie.
The regional chief will be selected during the organization’s annual Chiefs Assembly, June 11-13 in Ohsweken, southeast of Brantford.
