b'CHIEF PROFILEChief Profile:Q&A withChief Laurie Carr, Hiawatha First NationBY NIKITA DAYL aurie Carr is Michi Saagiigwere a team, as one of the leaders inand missing Indigenous women and chil-from Hiawatha First Nation,the community and being in the Chiefdren, for example. We also run womens Hoof Clan. In 2004, Carrrole, you take a lot of that ownership ongroups, but these are things weve always was elected as a member ofbecause youre responsible. So it was thatdone. We have womens groups where the Hiawatha Council, where she servedmoment of Oh my goodness, what dowe do different activities, provide infor-for three years until being elected aswe do? How do I keep my communitymation and just bring women together. Hiawathas first female Chief in 2007.safe? But then we started to learn, andWe use our Knowledge Keepers in our From 2010 to 2017, Laurie worked atwe locked our community down andcommunity at the events that we need the Chiefs of Ontario as the Southernwe all worked together. Our commu- to, but I also have a couple of specific Ontario Non-Insured Health Benefitsnity volunteered at our checkpoints andKnowledge Keepers that I turn to when Navigator, and worked for one yearsupported us throughout. The peopleI need help. as the Acting Social Director forwho owned businesses, they shut down First Nations in Ontario. Laurie wastheir businesses. Everybody workedWhat women have you looked up to re-elected as Chief of Hiawatha in 2017together to meet this unique challenge.throughout your life?and continues to serve her First NationI think one of the other accomplish- LC: I think theres been a number of in this role today. ments is, through COVID-19, wewomen. There are women that Ive learned how to do work differently whilelooked up to that have taught me about What has been your proudest accom- trying to meet the communitys needswho I am as an Indigenous woman. plishment during your time as Chiefthe best we [could]. This meant doingTheyve taught me about ceremony, in your community? online events, doing online workshopsabout living a good way of life and what Laurie Carr: I think it changes withand doing online training for those citi- my role as an Indigenous woman is.whats happening around you. Rightzens who may have been alone. It meantDescribe what it means to you to be a now, I would say Im proud of the worklooking after peoples mental health,female Chief in your community.that we have all done [in the pandemic].whether they had addiction issues or I never say its just metheres a wholejust [might] be living alone, [like] ourLC: I feel so honoured and grateful to team of people, our staff and council,seniors, and just taking care. Out of allhave this role in my community. I was that have worked to get us throughthis came more awareness of how we dothe first elected female Chief in our COVID-19. We havent had any hospi- things, why we do things and how wecommunity back in 2007. It was over-talizations or deaths, and were gratefulcan do things differently to keep ourwhelming at first. Theres just so much. for that. The last two years have beencommunity safe and healthy. As women, we bear that, that role of a lot of work to [achieve] that, and itstaking care. So now I have to take care because of everybody helping. OurAre you working on any initiatives orof my whole community and think, community really came together, so thatprojects specific to womens initiativesOh my goodness, can I do this? Am I was wonderful to see. or Knowledge Keepers in the right person? And obviously, my your community? community thought I was. What unique challenges have arisen inLC: I sit as the AIAI Representative onI knew this is where I was meant to be. your role? the Chiefs of Ontario Justice CommitteeOn my moms side of the family, the LC: COVID-19 was a unique chal- and on the Indigenous WomensPaudash family, they were the hereditary lenge to work through. Part of that chal- Advisory Committee for Ontario. Part ofChiefs in our community. My dad was a lenge was fear of the unknown. Theresthose things that we do in our commu- Cowie. There were many elected Cowies so many different types of fear, andnity, its ongoingits not a specificto the position of Chief, including my for me, that fear was, How do I keepinitiative, but its about raising awarenessdad, who was our Chief for 18 years. So my community safe? Even thoughof womens issues, with the murderedI have a lot of bloodline, and growing up 36l I ssue1 2022C hIefs ofo ntarIoA dvocAte magazIne'