To the Members of Keeseekoowenin Ojibway First Nation,
I extend my greetings to all of you and your families.
I would like to provide a general update on the work that Chief and Council have been engaged in at the governance level. Our efforts remain focused on strengthening our Nation, protecting our rights, and building a path forward that reflects our responsibilities to our people and future generations.
In the last two months, leadership has continued advancing strategic plans that will help develop economics for our community. The intent of this work is to create revenue that supports independence for our members, while strengthening our Nation’s overall capacity to provide more financial support, programs, and employment opportunities. This includes supporting community member entrepreneurial efforts, building skills, and encouraging the use of individual talents and contributions. This approach is centered on building from within so that both our households and our Nation can grow stronger together. The outcome we are working diligently toward is achieving true self-determination for our Nation. This is not just a leadership effort it will become a community effort. We are looking to ignite the spirit of our hard workers and entrepreneurs within the community. You are needed.
Work is also ongoing to strengthen governance practices, including improving internal processes, reinforcing accountability, and ensuring that community initiatives are supported with the proper structure and oversight. These steps are important in building a strong and stable foundation for our Nation moving forward.
As part of our responsibility to protect our jurisdiction and Treaty rights, formal correspondence has been issued to the Attorney General of Canada and to the President and CEO of Parks Canada. These actions are part of our continued efforts to assert Keeseekoowenin’s rightful place in decisions that impact our lands, waters, and people.
Leadership is also taking steps to strengthen financial awareness, long-term planning, and the protection of community assets as part of a broader effort to build lasting stability and independence for our Nation, while also ensuring that we are addressing the development of the skills and infrastructure needed to support sustained and reliable recordkeeping.
At the same time, efforts are being made to update contact information for off-reserve members so that they remain included, informed, and recognized as equally valued members of our Nation. We recognize that housing limitations and provincial employment opportunities often require members to live away from the community. It is important to us that all members, regardless of where they reside, continue to feel connected to their roots and to the Nation as a whole.
It is important to recognize that leadership is not always easy. There are times when progress can be slowed by circumstances such as seasonal illness, competing priorities, and the complexity of the work itself. Addressing the needs of a Nation is not a one-time effort it is ongoing, and it requires constant reflection, adjustment, and commitment to doing better.
We also understand that it is not always possible to meet every expectation within the community. However, our responsibility remains to do our best to ensure that our people feel supported, safe, and respected.
At the same time, it is important to acknowledge that there are outside forces that benefit from seeing our people divided. As a Nation, we must remain mindful of this. Conflict within our own community is not productive and does not move us forward. The foundation of who we are as the original people of Riding Mountain who were rooted in love, kindness, and respect, and strengthening our connection to these traditional values is essential as we move forward together in a good way.
Band Meeting Update
The Band Meeting scheduled for April 23, 2026 has been rescheduled to Thursday, May 21, 2026.
Additional details will follow
WITHOUT PREJUDICE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Chief Dwayne Blackbird
Ohkitchetah Assiginack