PIKWÀKANAGÀN – There is a sense of excitement among the three newly elected councillors of the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn. Their excitement is tinged with an awareness of the challenges facing the community.
During the March 25 election, Chief Kirby Whiteduck was returned along with three councillors, Ron Bernard, Dan Kohoko and Jim Meness.
Among the three newly elected councillors, both Wendy Jocko and Barb Sarazin have served on council before, though sometime ago. This is the first term for new councillor Steve Benoit, who is the youngest to serve on the present council.
All three new councillors said that the election provided an opportunity for the community to discuss the issues raised by the land claim ratification vote.
The ratification vote of the Agreement in Principle (AIP) with the Algonquins of Ontario (AOO) and the governments of Canada and Ontario took place in 2016.
Get your April 5, 2017 edition of The Valley Gazette to read the full article.