GRASSY NARROWS – There’s a new chief in the Asubpeeschoseewagong First Nation, better known as Grassy Narrows.
And, for the first time since introduction of the band system, the new chief is a woman.
Sherry Ackabee won against incumbent Rudy Turtle in the race for the Anishinaabe community’s top job, winning on Monday by a slim margin.
Ackabee edged Turtle by a margin of 10 votes, 109 to 99, in an election that also had other candidates for chief.
“My priorities are to work with the community,” Ackabee told Newswatch in a conference call with her councillors in the room.
“And, you know, I find the children are a very important part of the community, and so are the elders. Everybody is important in my thoughts,” she added.
“I would like to better the community along with my councillors, and we’re looking forward to moving forward in new things ahead,” the chief said.
“We’re going to work as a team, and I think we’re going to accomplish a lot. I want to always include my councillors in everything as we work along in the next two years.
“And that’s our main goal, a better everything for Grassy Narrows.”
A former child and family advocate worker, Ackabee served on Grassy Narrows council for two years before this month’s election and was deputy chief during that period.
The four other council members beginning the 2024-2026 term with Ackabee include two first-termers: Aaron Kokopanace and Joe Devlin.
Bear Copenace and Arnold Pahpasay were re-elected.
