EDITORIAL: Beardy wins regional post

Congratulations to former Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy.

On Wednesday Beardy took the next step in his political career, winning a close vote in Toronto to become the new Regional Chief for Ontario.

Beardy, a tireless advocate for First?Nations rights in Ontario’s North, knocked off long-time Ontario Chief Angus Toulouse to win the job. Also in the race was Walpole Island First Nation Chief Joseph Gilbert.

It took two rounds of voting for Beardy to win, the final tally being 59-53 in his favour. Beardy intends to focus on a couple of key areas pertinent to the future of First Nations in the province.

Treaty rights and economic well-being are two of the hottest topics on the go, with the Ring of Fire promising plenty of jobs, but at the same time raising alarm in some communities worried about their traditional territories.

Beardy’s goal is to have First Nations fully participate in the global economy and find ways to do things for themselves. That’s where he comes in.

“I?think what they’re looking for is strong advocacy. They need for me to be a lot more vocal and we need to be a lot more visible, not only domestic, but more so international,” he told Thunder?Bay Source last week. Time will tell if he succeeds.