b'CHIEF PROFILEChief Profile: Gerry Duquette Jr.of Dokis First NationBY RICK GARRICKF irst elected in 2016, Dokisits just outstandingit always makesCollege in 1998 and later worked with First Nation Chief Gerryme smile, Chief Duquette says. I thinkthe National Aboriginal Lands Managers Duquette Jr. is proud of thethats one of the beautiful things on theAssociation as the resource officer achievements his communityNation, where were able to try to instilland Quebec/Labrador First Nations has accomplished during his five terms. those great values and say its okay to becoordinator, and with his community Some wonderful things here inAnishinaabe and to love it. as the lands coordinator. He has also Dokis have happened, and this is notNow, the council is working onworked at his familys business, Riverside due to methis is due to our staff, ournaming the bridges to their community,Cottages, since he was 12 years old.council and the support of our members,which is located on an island, toI was elected [to council]I then Chief Duquette says. [Weve had]recognize their own band members.unfortunately lost my grandfather but changes in our bridges, so differentWe just named our main bridge comingspent half a term with him, and I became [methods of] access to our community,in the John C. Restoule Bridge, ChiefDeputy Chief after, Chief Duquette says. the development of a new water plantDuquette says, noting that former ChiefAnd our former Chief Denise Restoule, thats going to be coming soon, theJohn C. Restoule had the vision to buildwho was our Chief for 10 years and did a restoration of our powwow grounds andthe bridge, which was built in 1956.fantastic job, she asked me actually to run enhancements to facilities that are thereWere an island and he wanted to make[for Chief] and I said no [at first].and continue to grow. We have openedsure that people who were sick [couldChief Duquette says some of the up a quarry, we have a scale, [and] wetravel for medical help]. I think its veryunique challenges he has faced include take care of another small quarry off important not to forget anyone and tonot being able to help band members the Nation. keep that history there to make sure ourwith issues such as health and education Dokis also has partial ownership withfamily members know. needs. For me, thats very frustrating, a 40-per-cent interest in the OkikendawtChief Duquette credits his latebut we always want to make sure that Hydro Project, a 10-megawatt run-of- grandfather Leonard Dokis, a formernobody is left behind, he says. We do the-river facility located on the FrenchDokis First Nation Chief in the 1970s,have the [Okikendawt] Hydro Project, River. We actually won an award forfor encouraging him to run for councilwhich goes to a trust; we have some small clean, green energy. This is somethingin 2012. Chief Duquette graduated fromventures that were trying to do to have were very proud of, and its been 10 yearsNative Land Management at Cambrianan extra own-source revenue to come since operation [began], Chief Duquette says. Were currently in negotiation with Canada for past grievances with the water level, the flooding.The list of achievements continues from thereChief Duquette says theEven if I wasnt Chief, Im just so proud to be community has taken control of theirfrom Dokis and to be able to raise my family land management with the Framework Agreement on First Nation Landhere and hopefully my grandchildren and Management and are under their own education agreement throughgreat-grandchildren.the Anishinabek Education System. They also have Anishinaabemowin classes for students in their Kikendawt Chief Gerry Duquette Jr.Kinoomaadii Gamig school. Having that pride to speak our own language, 28l I ssue2 2025/26C hIefs ofo ntarIoA dvocAte magazIne'