Derek Fox is the new Grand Chief of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation.
Fox, from Bearskin Lake First Nation, received 30 of 41 votes during a virtual election Wednesday.
The second candidate in the running, Attawapiskat’s Bruce Shisheesh received 11 votes.
Derek is a lawyer by training and is following in the footsteps of his father Charles, who himself is a former NAN Grand Chief and also served as the Ontario Regional Chief for the Chiefs of Ontario.
Derek has served the last six years as Deputy Grand Chief, with a focus on a portfolio that includes Health Policy and Advocacy, Environment, Energy, Education, and Languages.
He replaces Alvin Fiddler who stepped down this year in an unsuccessful bid for the leadership of the Assembly of First Nations.
Derek has stated his priorities include providing more opportunities for NAN youth, preservation of language and culture, economic development, improvements to housing on-reserve, and action on climate change.
There were eight candidates vying for three NAN Deputy Chief positions.
Elected were Anna Betty Achneepineskum of Marten Falls First Nation, Bobby Narcisse of Aroland First Nation, and Victor H. Linklater of Taykwa Tagamou Nation.
NAN represents 49 First Nations across Northern Ontario.
Very honoured to accept the responsibility and sacred duty as the Grand Chief of @NANComms pic.twitter.com/zOJKe2utBq
— Derek Fox (@gcderekfox) August 11, 2021
