WINNIPEG – One of Manitoba’s most controversial aboriginal activists has been elected the province’s new Southern Grand Chief.
But the victory of Terry Nelson was a squeaker; he won by two votes over his nearest challenger, former Manitoba chief Norman Bone.
There were 32 chief eligible to cast votes in the ballot held at Brokenhead Ojibwa Nation, about 80 kilometres north of Winnipeg.
The passionate style of the former chief of the Roseau River First Nation has sometimes created controversy and headlines.
He led aboriginal protesters in blockading a Canadian National rail line in Manitoba, and sent a letter to former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad seeking investment in such things as housing on First Nations.
He was also instrumental in landing an $80 million compensation package for land swindled out of his home First Nation a century ago.
Nelson says he’s got work to do to earn the trust of the chiefs who didn’t vote for him.
“It was close and I have to prove myself and one of the first things is the fear factor has to go away. They’ve got a lot of expectations,” he said of the chiefs for whom he will serve as spokesman.
He ran on a platform to work toward the creation of five new urban reserves in Winnipeg and economic independence for First Nations.
But he said his first days in office will be tied up with chiefs and federal aboriginal affairs officials on administrative issues.
His election followed the ouster of former leader Murray Clearsky over a $10,000 spending scandal.
Derek Nepinak, Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, said the selection of Nelson is a signal to government, both the NDP in Manitoba and the Conservatives in Ottawa.
“For them to go with Terry represents a new energy and it speaks to a lot of frustration (with) both levels of government,” Nepinak said. “He’s bringing in a new element that people often perceive as threatening and that (reflects) their level of frustration.”
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