NAN Congratulates Grand Chief Abram Benedict, Elected as New Ontario Regional Chief

OHSWEKEN, ON: Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, on behalf of the Executive Council, congratulates Grand Chief Abram Benedict, of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, on his election today as Ontario Regional Chief:

“On behalf of Nishnawbe Aski Nation I am pleased to congratulate and welcome our friend Grand Chief Abram Benedict as our new Ontario Regional Chief.

Abram’s experience leading negotiations at the provincial and federal level will be essential to advancing the interest of First Nations across Ontario. I am confident he will be a strong advocate for our Chiefs and Nations in his new and challenging role.

As Grand Chief, Abram has established strong relationships with our provincial and federal Treaty partners that have supported his community’s initiatives for change. We look forward to working with him to advance the priorities of NAN First Nations.

We congratulate all candidates, and we acknowledge former Regional Chief Glen Hare and thank him for his leadership for the past three years. The groundwork he has laid will allow us to strengthen our relationship with the Regional Chief’s office and work more effectively with Chiefs of Ontario in a good way.”

Regional Chief Benedict was elected in a Traditional Election Process on Day 2 of the Chiefs of Ontario Annual Chiefs Assembly in Six Nations of the Grand River.

Abram Benedict has spent the last 13 years in positions of community leadership, most recently as Grand Chief for the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne. He has served as a Governor for St. Lawrence College and is a member of the Chairperson’s Indigenous Circle of the Parole Board of Canada.

For more information: https://chiefs-of-ontario.org/

For more information please contact:
Michael Heintzman,
Director of Communications
Cell: (807) 621-2790
mheintzman@nan.ca