BIRCH ISLAND—Rodney Nahwegahbow has been selected as the new chief of Whitefish River First Nation and the former chief of police for the UCCM Anishnaabe Police Service has hit the ground running. It certainly helps that the new head of council already had two terms at the table before being elected as chief.
“I was really pleased with the voter turnout,” said Chief Nawegahbow of the election. “It was great to see so many supporting the election process.”
The new chief notes that job one will be the revitalization of the community and the road to that goal begins with community engagement. “That includes at the personal level,” he said, “talking to people individually, both employees within the band and the community at large.”
Chief Nahwegahbow dismisses concerns about people coming in to talk. “That was the very essence of police work,” he said. “People coming in and bringing their concerns.” He stressed that building an atmosphere of trust is vital to good governance. “We need to build strong relationships with the community and to be proactive,” continued Chief Nahwegahbow.
While the physical plant of the community continues to be improved and built upon, the new chief stresses that the spiritual aspects of the community also need to be strengthened.
Chief Nahwegahbow said that collaboration with organizations both within and outside the community is important. “We need to build capacity in both the non-Native and Native services for our community,” he said. “My goal is to improve relationships.”
Chief Nahwegahbow will be joined by a council of seven, including Talon Chin-McGregor, Brian McGregor, Jeffery McGregor, Leslie McGregor, Leona Nahwegahbow, Esther Osche and Richard Shawanda. “I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the outgoing leadership for their hard work and accomplishments during the previous four-year term,” he said.
