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Deputy Chief Georgina Thompson takes the helm at Sheguiandah First Nation

July 15, 2015

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SHEGUIANDAH FIRST NATION—With the passing of Richard Shawanda on June 24, the late chief of the Sheguiandah First Nation, deputy chief Georgina Thompson will now lead the community until October 23, the date of its next election.

“Richard was a very wise man,” Deputy Chief Thompson said in an interview at The Expositor office. “His primary goal was to help the community, over and above everything else, not just his supporters.”

She noted how the late chief instituted a GED program in the community and was also in full support of further staff training.

“I miss him a lot,” Deputy Chief Thompson continued. “It’s certainly not something I expected to be doing.” The deputy chief has plenty of experience, though, having served six years as chief and two as councillor.

“Council is going to continue with his wishes,” she added, noting an update to the band office and a “much needed” paint job. “We’re going to keep going with present initiatives.”

Article written by

Alicia McCutcheon

Alicia McCutcheon has served as editor-in-chief of The Manitoulin Expositor and The Manitoulin West Recorder since 2011. She grew up in the newspaper business and earned an Honours B.A. in communications from Laurentian University, Sudbury, also achieving a graduate certificate in journalism, with distinction, from Cambrian College. Ms. McCutcheon has received peer recognition for her writing, particularly on the social consequences of the Native residential school program. She manages a staff of four writers from her office at The Manitoulin Expositor in Little Current.