By Jacqueline St. Pierre Local Journalism Initiative Reporter WIIKWEMKOONG—Changes are afoot in Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory as a new chief and seven new councillors were elected Saturday. The First Nation held its bi-annual election for the two-year term, naming Tim Ominika as the new chief. Mr. Ominika, a mental health and addictions specialist with the Anishinabek Nation, ran on a four-pillar platform: economic development and sovereignty; cultural preservation and revitalization; education and youth empowerment; and health and wellbeing. Mr. Ominika won with 418 votes, topping former chief Rachel Manitowabi by 58 of 1,050 eligible votes cast. Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory elects one chief and 12 councillors for two years under the Indian Act’s electoral system. The community is working on implementing its own election law. In 2014, the First Nation ratified its constitution,…
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