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More First Nations women in leadership roles

Leslee White-Eye became chief of the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation earlier this week.

Earlier this week Leslee White-Eye became chief of the Chippewas of the Thames, the first female chief of the band in more than 60 years.

“Her success is our success,” says Isadore Day, Ontario regional chief. He cites the Indian Act laws, which prohibited women from voting or running in elections until 1951, as a digression for the First Nations community.

It wasn’t until Bill C-31, which amended the Indian Act in 1985, that things started to noticeably change.

“It’s taken us a few years to get us here,” he says. “We’re now seeing not just more women in leadership roles, but the quality women bring to the First Nations is quite evident across the country.”

White-Eye agrees. She says she wonders about “what’s in the water” when it comes to women in political leadership roles in the First Nations community. There are about 130 female chiefs across the country, compared to 10 in 1960.

“Our women have always been leaders,” she says.

When it comes to addressing her platform, White-Eye is mindful with her words.

As the first female chief of the band since 1953, the 47-year-old is clear on her intention: to continue serving her council and community, which is located outside of London, Ont., in a democratic way.

While financial accountability and job creation are top of mind, White-Eye says that first and foremost, her role is to listen to the community and her council.

“I don’t want to be a leader that comes out ahead of the people, who dictates or directs the vision of the community,” she tells Yahoo Canada News. “I campaigned on what I personally thought we needed to be focusing on. But on the actual direction of the community, that’s still to be defined.”

Less than a week into to her new role, White-Eye says it’s been a crazy run so far, though she’s more than competent to handle it.

Serving her people is something that’s been long ingrained in White-Eye’s genetic makeup. Being raised by parents who were active community members, organizing powwows and sporting events, she quickly picked up on how to be a planner.

“I’ve been raised to donate my time because it’s lots of fun,” she says.

Her list of extracurricular activities is extensive, from sitting on student councils and sports committees to organizing powwow competitions. She sees her experience as baby steps to where she is now.

“You get pretty confident and you get to know the community and network, and see what the community is facing and internal challenges they’re facing,” she says.

The mother of three also worked as a teacher at the school at Chippewas of the Thames and then, for nine years with the Ministry of Education.