By Sonal Gupta, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada’s National Observer Mandy Gull-Masty has just made history as the first Indigenous person to take on the role of Canada’s minister of Indigenous Services. She now steps into a position that directly shapes how programs and support are delivered to First Nations, Inuit and Métis people across the country. A member of the Cree Nation from Waswanipi in northern Quebec, and a former grand chief of Eeyou Istchee, Gull-Masty’s appointment is a milestone for Indigenous representation at the highest levels of federal government. She takes on a portfolio fraught with deep challenges. Her ministry is responsible for matters like reforming the child welfare system, closing the infrastructure gap and ensuring clean drinking water and equitable services for Indigenous communities — issues that…