The Chiefs of Ontario will hold a National Chief Welcome Celebration on Monday to formally congratulate RoseAnne Archibald.
She was recently elected as the new National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) after five rounds of voting.
Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare congratulated Archibald in a media release issued on Friday.
"Over the last three years, RoseAnne Archibald has done exceptional work in advancing First Nations priorities in Ontario across all sectors and has worked diligently to protect First Nations communities alongside the Leadership Council during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Hare in a statement.
Aamjiwnaang Chief Chris Plain said Archibald's appointment generates twice as much excitement given the fact that she is the first female national chief to be elected and had previously served as the Ontario regional chief.
Archibald laid out a 100-day plan during a virtual press conference on Friday.
"The recovery of our children at former residential schools is a priority. There must be truth before reconciliation," said Archibald. "Other issues that face our people, the implementation of the missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls action plan. This is a priority."
Other issues included in Archibald's plan include climate change and addressing systemic racism.
Plans to address those issues, specifically in regards to murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls, were what Plain had hoped for.
"It's a national issue that I think is important to a lot of people so that is going to be the responsibility of the national chief," he said. "We do have a new Ontario chief as well who I'm sure will be pushing for the local issues but we expect her to be active right across the country."
Plain said he hopes issues such as access to clean water and air quality will also be addressed.
"Our issues are around local air qualities so we'll see how environment fits into her platform and if there's an opportunity for us as a local community to address some of the issues that we have, I'm sure she'd be open to that," said Plain.
Aamjiwnaang Chief Chris Plain. May 2020. (Photo courtesy of BWHF via Facebook)
Archibald succeeds Perry Bellegarde, who took the position in December 2014.
"He's done back-to-back terms and that's very uncommon. We usually see one-term national chiefs. So I wish him well and I'm sure he's going to pop up on the scene somewhere," said Plain. "He's still quite young. I wish Perry Bellegarde all the best."
Bellegarde posted on Facebook Friday, congratulating Archibald.
"This is a very important and challenging job and I wish NC Archibald all the best," read the post.
Monday's welcome celebration will be live-streamed at 1 p.m.
