MKO election: Sheila North Wilson elected as first female grand chief
The incumbent David Harper was eliminated from the race after the first ballot
Sheila North Wilson is the new grand chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) after being elected at the annual general assembly being held in the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation.
North Wilson is the first woman to be elected to the position.
Four people put their name forward as candidates in the election: North Wilson from Bunibonibee Cree Nation, Tyler Duncan from Norway House Cree Nation, William Elvis Thomas from Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, and the incumbent David Harper from Garden Hill First Nation.
The first ballot numbers were: 44 votes cast for North Wilson; 35 votes for Thomas; 24 for Duncan; and 23 for Harper, who was then eliminated for the second round.
First ballot for Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak grand chief was won by <a href="https://twitter.com/shenorthwilson">@shenorthwilson</a>.David Harper was eliminated <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbcmb?src=hash">#cbcmb</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CBC_Aboriginal">@CBC_Aboriginal</a>
—@AngelaSterrittAccording to York Factory councillor,Tyler Duncan bowed out of 2nd ballot for MKO election and put his support behind Elvis Thomas. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbcmb?src=hash">#cbcmb</a>
—@AngelaSterrittIn the second ballot, North Wilson walked away with 74 votes over Thomas who had 58.
- Sheila North Wilson officially launches bid for MKO grand chief
- David Harper seeks re-election as MKO grand chief
- Tyler Duncan, 19, launches bid to become MKO grand chief
Before the ballots were cast, candidate North Wilson told CBC News she has been humbled by the support she's received during the campaign.
"I've listened and I've learned a lot in the last decade working in the media and being a journalist and I've come to know the issues intimately and I've lived them before and now it's time for me to give back to my northern community in a more direct way," she said.
Duncan, 19, said Tuesday that despite his age he is no newcomer to the political stage.
"I believe that MKO needs to address issues that matter the most, bread and butter issues in our communities: housing, health care, education. MKO was put in place to advocate and address theses issues, as of right now I don't feel that it is going that way," he said.