WIKWEMIKONG—With a decisive 738 out of 1,262 votes for Wikwemikong chief, Duke Peltier will again lead his community for another two year term. The other candidates for chief included Bernadine Francis with 274 votes, Gladys Wakegijig with 171 votes and Kenneth Jacko with 66 votes.
Elected to council for the 2014-2016 term are: Bernadine Francis (566), Tim Ominika (475), Lawrence Enosse (421), Margaret (Tish) Manitowabi (407), Dominic Beaudry (405), Maureen E. Trudeau Manitowabi (404), Lorraine Fox (390), Gladys Wakegijig (385), John James Dubé (378), Cecilia J. Pitawanakwat (O’Connor) (316), Robbie Shawana (305) and Agnes Kanasawe (296). Newcomers to this term of council are Tim Ominika, Dominic Beaudry, Robbie Shawana and Agnes Kanasawe.
The Expositor asked Chief Peltier for comment the Monday following his re-election.
He stated that there are a number of things begun by the last council, what he termed “foundation pieces,” that he would like to see added upon.
He noted the Children’s Bill of Rights passed last year, “a directive to our administration to place our children’s needs at the forefront of each of our services, placing a strong focus on making sure they come first.”
Chief Peltier also spoke of the Wikwemikong Constitution, passed in June. Council will begin creating new laws and ratifying the document, beginning with matrimonial real property. A first reading of this law was held in an open meeting of council in July. It is now before the community before it goes to a second reading, followed by more consultation, then a third and final reading after which it will be passed into law.
“We do need to take it slow and not do too much at once,” the chief said. “We need to make sure we’re getting it right.”
Chief and council will hold a strategic planning session and retreat soon to learn what the last council’s directions were and to give each council member an opportunity to provide their own considerations, the chief said.
He called the support from his community “overwhelming. Me, my wife and eldest son were shocked at the outcome. I was confident going into the election, but didn’t realize what level of support this would translate into.”
Chief Peltier concluded by thanking the “people of Wiikwemkoong” for their support, adding that he will continue to “try and bring good things on behalf of my community.”
