ANISHNABE OF WAUZHUSHK ONIGUM (June 17, 2015) – Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee congratulates newly-elected Ontario Regional Chief Isadore Wiindawtegowinini Day.
“People here are saying ‘What a difference a Day makes!’” jokes Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee who had praise for Chief Day’s campaign. “He listened to what the chiefs had to say and that was crucial to his campaign. I look forward to working with him in his new role and get to work as soon as possible.”
Madahbee also acknowledged the two other candidates – Chief Tom Bressette and Randall Phillips.
As spokesman for 133 First Nations in Ontario, becomes the Ontario Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations. The Regional Chief’s activities are guided by the Chiefs-in-Assembly who represent the Anishinabek, Mushkegowuk, Onkwehonwe, and Lenape Peoples.
With a list of diverse attributes and skills, Day has been welcomed at many tables to share in efforts to make constructive change for the Anishinabek and First Nations at the Regional and National level in recent years.
He believes that Youth in general have vision and hold leadership keys for success that need to be tapped and brought to the table and legitimized in formal process.
In 2006, Chief Isadore Day addressed President Bill Clinton in the Ontario Economic Summit and asked the president to reflect on his discussion from the vantage point of First Nations. He was reciprocated with a lengthy input from the president. He has also been quite active with many other levels of leadership from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ontario Premier and scores of MPs – all focused on one thing: The First Nation Agenda. Day is noted across the country as a visible and relevant leader.
The Anishinabek Nation established the Union of Ontario Indians as its secretariat in 1949. The UOI is a political advocate for 39 member communities across Ontario, representing approximately 60,000 people. The Union of Ontario Indians is the oldest political organization in Ontario and can trace its roots back to the Confederacy of Three Fires, which existed long before European contact.
