Sachigo Lake First Nation -
Isadore Day, is a candidate running for the position of Ontario Regional Chief to be decided in elections next month.
Day is bringing forward a proposed Northern Journal strategy as part of his mandate if elected to take on the responsibilities of the lead advocate for Ontario’s 134 First Nations. The journal is a rolling consultation, strategic plan and report which he states he will work on with First Nations in the remote North.
Day has been travelling to First Nations in all parts of the Ontario region over the last several weeks. He is getting a first hand account of issues that First Nations people are experiencing on a daily basis.
“We take many things for granted in the south that are simply inaccessible and currently unattainable in the North.” says Day.
While discussing an all-inclusive regional agenda, Chief Day stresses that every regions issues are no more or no less important than the other, they are simply different and require different strategies and approaches.
“I’ve lived in the north in the past, and I only know some of what our friends in remote communities are experiencing. I want to bring this issues to the forefront of a new agenda in the Chiefs of Ontario,” stated Day.
Chief Day says that “With the Far North Act, proposed development and living conditions in the north; his role if selected as Ontario Regional Chief, is to be a voice, be a contact, and be accessible to Chiefs and the communities in the North”.
He says he looks forward to the opportunity to work with the Chiefs and says that suicide rates, high diabetes rates, education are some of the glaring issues to be addressed.
Wapekeka First Nation, where this week there was a fire that consumed a First Nation school, is one of the places he will visit in the next several days.
His Northern Journal strategy will focus on new communication and political advocacy strategies that will be applied in all regions in Ontario. He says that Northern First Nations deserve attention to the issues and intend on building strong partners with those First Nation leaders.
Isadore Day currently holds the position of Chief in Serpent River First Nation and Lake Huron Regional Grand Chief in the Anishinabek Nation. He is a strong advocate for First Nation treaties and places a heavy emphasis on the “Next Generation.”
