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(Update)
The newly elected band council Chief for Six Nations is vowing to make history. Elected by a margin of just two votes, Ava Hill wants to end the divide between the government created council and the traditional Confederacy of Chiefs. But, as Elise Copps reports, even for a veteran councillor, this challenge my be beyond reach.
On December 3rd, Ava Hill will take her seat as newly elected Chief of the Six Nations Band Council: “If we could all come together. there are so many factions here. If we could all come together, I think what we could do for our people as a community would be tremendous.”
First priority, finding a way to work together with the confederacy. The two bodies, one, given power by the federal government, the other, passing leadership through bloodlines, have been divided for years.
Ava Hill: “When you talk to the feds they say, well we can’t talk to you, you’re a divided community. And that’s why they’re using that against us. and that’s another reason that we have to come together.”
Only five per cent of eligible voters actually cast a ballot in the election. Even those who did vote say they’ve lost confidence in the system, and the divisions between the confederacy and the band council are just too deep.
Hill has had success working with the confederacy in the past, but current band Chief Bill Montour fears that could change with her new position: “It seems when we get these political titles, there’s a wall goes up.”
That wall makes it harder to unite on important issues- like First Nations education, access to clean water, and resolving long standing land claims disputes.
Ava Hill: “Maybe the first few meetings we won’t agree on everything but i think we’ve got to keep at it.”
Hill is up for the challenge: “Maybe I can’t do it in my time, but at least I can start the path.”
I spoke with a few representatives from the traditional confederacy about whether they’re willing to work with hill. they told me they haven’t gathered as a group yet to discuss their plans, and can’t talk about the issue until they make a collective decision. As for current Chief Bill Montour, despite a margin of just two votes, he’s not contesting the decision. He says he’s ready to move on and wishes Hill the best of luck as Chief.
