Greetings

I would like to say hello to our membership and the public in general. It has been ¼ of the way through my first term as your Chief and I immensely enjoy working for the people. If you were to describe me in anyway it would a helper of the people. I have served on your Band Council for over 11 years and I have ran for the Office of the Chief for the past three elections. I felt that if the people really wanted me to be the Chief you would vote me in and you did. For that I am thankful for gaining your confidence and respect.

I am the daughter of Gord and Peg Cloud. Both my parents recently passed and I miss them dearly. My grandparents were Sheldon and Jeannette Cloud. They lived at Stoney Point in 1942 and their home that was moved, still stands today at the old homestead along Lake Road. My grandmother on my mothers side was Bessie Thomas. I was named Elizabeth after my great aunt Liz Shawkence and Jeannette after my grandmother on my fathers side.

I grew up with 10 brothers and sisters and I have four children of my own. My older boys are Dwayne and Jay Thunder and I have my twins Jordan and Jory Cloud. I have four lovely little girls who are my grandchildren with the newest one Emma Riley born in August 2008. So winning the election was almost as exciting as my grandchildren’s birth.

In 1975 I moved to Sioux Lookout Ontario with Dwayne and Jay’s father, and lived with the Oji-Cree people of Nishnawbe Aski. The people of the north are rich in language and culture and I learnt some of the language but most importantly I learned how much we can take for granted in the south compared to life in the north. I left in Sioux Lookout in 1985 and moved to Ottawa to work for Georges Erasmus who was National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations. That is when I first met the current National Chief Phil Fontaine, so I have known him for many years now. I had the opportunity to travel the entire country attending Chiefs’ meetings, workshops and conducting business that eventually to lead to many of the current initiatives that shape of our lives today. I finally moved back home in 1991 and take over the office of the Band Administrator until 1997.

I resigned from my position as Band Administrator in 1997 to move on to do others things in my life that I felt were important including going back to college and obtaining my degree in Aboriginal Business Management through St. Clair College. I tried to set an educational example for my children and their friends and continue to tell them of the importance that education can have in their life.

Through the last years as I continued to serve on the Band Council, I carried portfolios in Economic Development, Education, Youth and Elders, Southwind Development and Financial Management. I spent many hours listening to the people and making community events and initiatives a priority in my life. Perhaps my biggest community accomplishment was the start of the Annual Solidarity Day Celebrations.

I will strive to continue my community work and do my best to assist our people in many ways. I harbour no ill will against anyone and will respect your opinions and characteristics, my belief is a leader should be led by the people, for the people and be about the people. We have a very young growing population and I intent to pay much attention to the youth in the community, helping provide the skills and maturity that they will need to take over our offices someday. When we invest in our youth, we invest in our future.

I will not make decisions that are detrimental to the community but will consider what the people have to say, therefore our general band meetings will continue.

It is important that we listen to you and create an atmosphere that is accommodating and accountable. I look forward to hearing from you and I thank you for your ongoing support.