The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor David Harper remains northern Manitoba's top-ranking chief. Harper was re-elected Grand Chief of Manitoba Keewatnowi Okimakanak on Aug. 29 at the MKO's annual general assembly in Norway House. 'I see the work of the visionary chiefs who established MKO when I look at the very strong organization that MKO has become today,' he said in a news release. Winning on the second ballot, Harper received 66 of 115 votes by member First Nations chiefs and councillors _ eight more than he needed to claim victory. In second place with 49 votes was Mike Muswagon, a former Norway House band councillor who currently serves as assistant to Chief Ron Evans. Also running unsuccessfully were Chris Baker, chief of O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation, and George Neepin, chief of Fox Lake Cree Nation. Harper's election was followed by a traditional blessing ceremony by Cree elders and honour songs from the Dene Youth Drummers from Lac Brochet and the Bloodline Drum from Opaskwayak Cree Nation. Grand Chief Harper then took the MKO oath of office to formally begin his second term. During his first term, in the fall of 2010, Harper made a point of attending the 'first blast' ceremony at Hudbay's Lalor mine near Snow Lake. He called Lalor part of the solution to high unemployment rates on northern reserves and among aboriginal people in general. Harper, formerly chief of Garden Hill First Nation, was first elected as MKO Grand Chief in 2009. Eligible to vote in the Grand Chief election are all chiefs, headmen and councillors of MKO member Fist Nations. Incorporated in 1981, MKO is a political advocacy organization that speaks for most northern Manitoba First Nations. _ With files from Ian Graham, Thompson Citizen
