Improved transparency is one of the top priorities for Fort William First Nation’s newly elected chief.
Georjann Morriseau settled into her first day as chief Monday with a plan to finish some paperwork and get to know her staff.
In the long-term, Morriseau said she believes Fort William First Nation can act as a role model for improved transparency and they don’t need federal legislation to dictate how to accomplish that.
“We can be transparent on our own. We can put those processes and mechanisms in place,” she said, adding that’s just good governance.
On March 27, the First Nations Financial Transparency Act became law; under the legislation, First Nations must publish salaries and expenses for chiefs and councillors.
“When being transparent, you have an obligation, especially as a public representative and one that is elected into their position. We can do that on our own. We can ensure we take all measures and provide the necessary information to our members,” she said.
Morriseau, 28, was elected chief early last week and said it’s still a bit of a shock.
Her first priority as chief was to acquaint herself with council and administration and figure out how to bridge everyone’s goals and ideas and form a strategic plan for the community.
Former Fort William First Nation Chief Peter Collins told Thunder Bay Television last week that one of his biggest regrets was not solving the infighting between families in the community.
Morriseau said she hopes to address the issue and that in any small community family politics can become involved.
“There’s a lot of in-house disputing and those are some of the things we need to iron out. Not so much the people, the issues,” she said.
“We’re here to work for the common good,” Morriseau said. “Our goals must be reflective of the community and not of families or individuals. It’s about all members of Fort William First Nation. We must keep that at the forefront of everything that we do.”
The community also received a $154 million land claim settlement under Collin’s term. Morriseau said there are a lot of priorities in the community the money could be used for, like housing and infrastructure.
But that decision will be up to the community.
“We will be very diligent in consulting with our members to ensure their voices are heard and their priorities are met with actions from their leadership,” she said.
