THUNDER BAY – Aboriginal Now – Who will be the next Assembly of First Nations Chief? Wab Kinew will be sitting down with each of the candidates, and has generously agreed to share those interview with NNL.
Joan Jack was elected councillor in her home community in January 2012. She has built a career on balancing Aboriginal law with Aboriginal traditions. She’s also launched a class-action lawsuit for day school survivors (the people who went to schools where Aboriginal culture was often repressed, but who were allowed to return home at night).
Here are the highlights from the first interview:
[youtube:UggyThWcmIM]
The main points from Joan’s interview:
- She promises to take direction from the Chief’s on how to proceed as National Chief
- She promises to empower Chiefs to be an active part of Natural Resource negotiations
- She says the Crown First Nations Gathering is too far removed from the day to day “disaster” on many First Nations to have any impact
- She argues only a woman can succeed in getting through to Prime Minister Stephen Harper
- She wants to engage in a cross-cultural exercise to educate Canadians about what it’s like to be a First Nations person (from complete interview)
- She responds to criticism about her relative lack of political experience
Here is the complete interview:
[youtube:3eVkTz2s9dw]
Wab Kinew
Wab Kinew (pron: WOB ka-NOO) is a one-of-a-kind talent, named by Postmedia News as one of “9 Aboriginal movers and shakers you should know”. He hosted the acclaimed CBC Television series “8th Fire”. His hip-hop has won an Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Award. His journalism has won an Adrienne Clarkson RTNDA Award, a Gabriel Award and been nominated for a Gemini Award. He has a BA in Economics and is a member of the Midewin.