A former youth worker and prevention service worker in the child welfare field is Kettle and Stony Point First Nation’s new chief.
Kimberly Bressette, 37, won her first term on Nov. 4 after unseating two-term chief Jason Henry.
The niece of former chief Tom Bressette, the First Nation’s newest chief said she ran a campaign that focused on positivity.
“I focused on moving forward,” said Bressette, the developer and manager of the First Nation’s Family Well Being Program, which teaches people skills to retain care of their children during Children’s Aid Society involvment.
Healing, forgiveness and love are what her community needs in the coming years, she added.
“I was always of the mindset I’m not running against anyone,” Bressette said. “I’m running for this opportunity, this chance … for me to help the community in any way I can and make it better.”
Among her top priorities for the coming term is securing funding for a homeless shelter.
“We’ve probably never had this high amount of homeless population in the community,” said Bressette, who’s worked in the First Nation for 17 years..
She said she’s also focused on finding funding sources for sport and cultural programs for youth at the First Nation, as well as a recreation centre.
“I know it’s going to be hard work and I’m willing,” she said. “I’m just excited being at a higher level where I can fight for more things for my community.”
She also acknowledged the importance of keeping the Kettle and Stony Point community updated about the regular goings on of chief and council. She also plans to have an open-door policy, so anyone in the community can come to her with questions or concerns.
“We won’t do anything or make any decisions without consulting our community first,” she said in a video posted to Facebook Oct. 24.
It “feels amazing” to win the job, she said. “I have really been looking forward to this.”
A wearing-in ceremony was to be held Nov. 14 at Hillside school.
Bressette received 404 votes for chief, eclipsing Henry’s 275 and Shane Henry-Shawnoo’s 22.
In a Nov. 6 Facebook post, Henry talked about the weight of leadership, and how it can become easier or more difficult to bear depending on the support of the community.
“For me, some of that weight has been lifted,” he wrote in the post while thanking people for their support and pledging to continue working for the community.
He also said he was humbled to have had the responsibility of leadership.
“I pray that our new chief is a better leader than me and that the weight is light for her,” he wrote. “I will do whatever I can to help.”
Bressette, in a post the same day, thanked Henry and the previous council for their service.
Elected to council were Elizabeth Cloud, Alvin Wolfe, Ronald (Spike) George, Jack Brown, Carmen Rogers Jr., Melissa Monague, Stanley Wade Cloud, Marshall Emory George and Larry Vince George.