Grand Chief Arlen Dumas marks one year of uniting Chiefs in Manitoba
July 20, 2018
Treaty One Territory, Manitoba
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“It’s been quite an honour to serve as the Grand Chief of Manitoba,” said Grand Chief Arlen Dumas, who is from the Mathias Columb Cree Nation in northern Manitoba. “I have the opportunity to carry work forward that has been led by generations of First Nations leaders in Manitoba who have helped our communities resist assimilatory government laws, policies, and practices over the years. These leaders have advocated strenuously to protect our rights and it is now my role and honour to continue this work.”
It’s been a busy first year on the job for the Grand Chief, who has moved work forward on a number of files to benefit First Nations. Most notably, the Grand Chief is committed to transforming child welfare and asserting jurisdiction when it comes to our First Nations children; continuing work on economic development opportunities for First Nations; supporting survivors and families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls; building stronger, more collaborative relationships with governments; supporting Jordan’s Principle in Manitoba; and beginning work towards a Universal Health Accord for First Nations in Manitoba. Above all, Grand Chief Dumas is working to unite Chiefs across the province.
The Grand Chief received an Honourary Doctorate of Laws from Mount Allison University earlier this year.
“It is the Chiefs of Manitoba that give me the mandate to carry forward positions to all levels of government and to be the strong voice that ensures governments are working directly for the benefit of our communities,” stated Grand Chief Dumas.
This Spring, the Grand Chief was honoured by Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, which awarded him with an Honourary Doctorate of Laws.
Today the AMC wrapped up its 30th Annual General Assembly at the South Beach Casino in Brokenhead Ojibway First Nation. The AMC represents 62 of the 63 First Nations in Manitoba with a total of more than 151,000 First Nation citizens in the province, accounting for about 12 per cent of the provincial population. AMC represents a diversity of Anishinaabe (Ojibway), Nehetho (Cree), Oji-Cree, Dene, and Dakota people and traditions.