FORT WILLIAM FIRST NATION - Peter Collins was first elected to the Fort William First Nation band council more than 30 years ago and has since been elected chief 10 times, but his most recent tenure will be his last.
“It’s been a long journey for me,” Collins said. “I first got elected in 1986 as a young councilor and it’s been a long, long time, so I think it’s time for me to lay down the foundation of where this community can grow in the future and help guide somebody else that wants to lead in the future.”
Collins was officially sworn in as chief during a ceremony on Sunday in Fort William First Nation along with 12 band council members.
The ceremony, which was presided over by Justice of the Peace Marcel Donio, always carries a lot of meaning for Collins because he said it recognizes his contributions to the community and all his years of service.
Collins was re-elected chief earlier this month, defeating his only challenger, Bonnie Pelletier. He was first elected chief in 1998 and served until 2007. He returned in 2009 until 2013, when he decided not to seek re-election.
His most recent re-election marks his third consecutive term since 2015.
But after this term, Collins said he will not be seeking re-election and that decision is final.
“There will be no changing my mind,” he said. “My wife and I talked about it and she said you need to take time for yourself and your family and I respect that.”
This will also be his first term that will consist of four years for chief and council rather than two and Collins said while four years can fly by in the blink of an eye, it will provide time to continue to build the community.
“At the end of it, I’m going to try to get done everything I need to get done,” he said. “Especially around long-term care, jobs, and opportunities. Long-term care comes with upwards of 100 jobs and that is a solid year in the process, so there is a lot of work to be done on that front.”
Collins said he wants to continue to work with all levels of government to pursue economic opportunities that benefit all communities.
“I want to work with them all and I want to be a part of the economy,” he said. “I want Ontario to grow with us, not alone and not us alone. We can do it together with the municipalities.”
The next four years will also be important to lay the foundation for future leadership to take over, Collins said.
“That is my whole intention right now is to leave a strong foundation so that somebody can take and run with,” he said. “I know we will find a good leadership to follow in the leadership shoes today. Four years is a long time, but I get to a point where I need to take some time off.”
Desiree Morriseau-Shields is one of the newest members to be elected to the band council after having served the community for several years by offering dental hygiene services.
“I wanted to continue offering a safe space, a healthy space for our community to learn and grow in and I thought by way of council I would be able to achieve those things,” she said.
Morriseau-Shields added that she would like to see the reintegration of Indigenous culture into band policies, as well as more economic development to sustain programs that create safe and healthy spaces.
“I think it’s important we work beside the city of Thunder Bay because I think we have a lot to offer one another,” she said.
And while Collins will be stepping aside after the four years, Morriseau-Shields said she is pleased to be working along side him for his final term.
“I have a lot to learn from Chief Collins,” she said. “I think with the support of council we can transition into new leadership. It will be sad to see Chief Collins leave, but I think we will do well.”
