{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"The Turtle Island News","provider_url":"https:\/\/theturtleislandnews.com","author_name":"Lynda Powless","author_url":"https:\/\/theturtleislandnews.com\/index.php\/author\/lynda\/","title":"Thomas re-elected as chief on Walpole Island - The Turtle Island News","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"FDIEDKn7Ni\"><a href=\"https:\/\/theturtleislandnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/02\/thomas-re-elected-as-chief-on-walpole-island\/\">Thomas re-elected as chief on Walpole Island<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/theturtleislandnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/02\/thomas-re-elected-as-chief-on-walpole-island\/embed\/#?secret=FDIEDKn7Ni\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Thomas re-elected as chief on Walpole Island&#8221; &#8212; The Turtle Island News\" data-secret=\"FDIEDKn7Ni\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/theturtleislandnews.com\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n","description":"By Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice Walpole Island First Nation Bkejwanong Territory Chief Leela Thomas has been re-elected to a second term. With nearly 1,000 ballots cast on Sept. 19, Thomas, as the incumbent, outpaced five opponents vying for the chief&#8217;s chair by capturing 504 votes. The race saw Kennon M.L. Johnson finish second with 208 votes; Daniel Miskokomon third with 143 votes; Ronald A. Ron Sayed fourth with 90 votes; Cody Miskokomon fifth with 32 votes and Hussein Sayed in sixth place with five votes. Following the vote, Thomas posted on social media thanking the community for returning her to office. &#8220;Chimiigwech from the bottom of my heart for your encouragement, your support, and your trust in me to serve the nation again,&#8221; she wrote. &#8220;Also,","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/theturtleislandnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Walpole-Island-First-Nation-Bkejwanong-Territory-Chief-Leela-Thomas-300x225.webp"}