Lawrence Martin elected Mushkegowuk Grand Chief

Lawrence Martin has been elected as the new Grand Chief of the Mushkegowuk Council.

Martin, who is a member of the Moose Cree First Nation, beat out six other candidates in a by-election. He has also served as Mushkegowuk Grand Chief before, from 1998 to 2001.

The grand chief position has been open since the death of long-time leader Stan Louttit, who lost a battle with cancer in June.

"We have a lot of the housing issues, we have a lot of the water and sewage problems," Martin said of the challenges he will face as Grand Chief.

"But there's all kinds of money out there. Minister Rickford just announced the Canada Build program that has millions and millions of dollars and now we can actually start applying for those funds for the infrastructure in the communities."

After Martin served a term with Mushkegowuk Council, he was active in off-reserve politics. He served as mayor of the towns of Cochrane and Sioux Lookout. 

"Lawrence Martin made history as the first Aboriginal person in Ontario elected to lead a non-native municipality, then made history again by becoming one of the only people in Canada elected to lead two different municipalities," Nishnawbe-Aski Nation Grand Chief Harvey Yesno said in a release.

Martin is also an accomplished musician. He won a Juno music award for Best Music of Aboriginal Canada Recording in 1994, and was co-nominated for the Juno for Aboriginal Recording of the Year in 2003.

The Mushkegowuk Council represents eight Cree communities in northeastern Ontario: Attawapiskat First Nation, Chapleau Cree, Fort Albany First Nation, Kashechewan First Nation, Missanabie Cree, Moose Cree First Nation, Taykwa Tagamou First Nation (formerly New Post), and Weenusk First Nation (Peawanuck)