First Nations Voice

OCTOBER 2015 • PAGE 7 Youcanvoteinadvance. Ifyou'reready to voteearly,you can voteat your advance pollingplace between October 9 and 12, fromnoonto 8:00p.m. OryoucanvoteatanyElectionsCanadaofficeacrossthe countryanydayuntilOctober13at6:00p.m. Forallvotinglocations,checkyourvoterinformationcard,visit elections.caorcall1-800-463-6868( TTY 1-800-361-8935). ElectionsCanadahasalltheinformationyouneedtobe readytovote. AwayorbusyonOctober19? Sheila North-Wilson Former journalist Sheila North Wilson becomes the first female grand chief of the northern chiefs lobby group Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO). At Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation on Wednesday Sep- tember 2, North Wilson had 74 votes over the 58 cast for William Elvis Thomas from Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation to become MKO Grand Chief. Incumbent MKO Grand Chief David Harper saw his re- election bid ended on the first ballot with 23 votes. In MKO elections, councilors as well as chiefs can par- ticipate in the vote for MKO grand chief. North Wilson is a proud member of Bunibonibee First Nation. She has worked as a television journalist at CBC and CTV in the past including a brief stint working as public relations for the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. She is married to Rob Wilson, or as he is known pro- fessionally as Grammy nominated rapper Fresh I.E., if you prefer. I first met North Wilson when she worked at NCI FM as a radio announcer after graduating from the Academy of Broadcasting in Winnipeg. And we were classmates in the Red River College Creative Communications pro- gram when I was finishing my second year. I know in the past she had a recording project dedi- cated to alleviating the scourge of youth suicides. North Wilson becomes the first grand chief of the chiefs northern representative organization in its 34 year history. iNtroduciNG NeW mko GraNd chieF sheila North-WilsoN By Trevor Greyeyes"

• Cover