“A wind of change” by Jennifer O’Bomsawin

Jennifer O’Bomsawin has none of the usual profile of the great leader of the Nation. The politician and mother wants to become the second woman to access the prestigious position. “The Council must represent its citizens,” she believes.

The candidate welcomes the team Sun at home while the campaign is well underway. A large poster with his image stands in front of the house and the car parked in the driveway is marked with his image.

Inside, children’s toys color the living room. “Being a woman and being a mother is a huge driving force,” the young politician quickly mentions.

Of Huron-Wendat and Abenaki origins, Ms. O’Bomsawin has always lived in the community. At the dawn of her thirties, she has several years of experience as a consultant with numerous First Nations and the Quebec government. She also served as senior advisor to Grand Chef Remy Vincent before leaving her position at the start of the year to set out on her own.

The position of grand chef has appealed to him for a long time. “I was 12 years old and I knew this was what I wanted to do,” recalls the mother of a two-year-old girl.

During the last elections, she seriously considered going before giving up. “I felt that I still had things to learn,” she explains.

But now, “everything is green.”

“There is a great appetite for something new, a wind of change,” believes the trained political scientist. “And my candidacy is what it brings.”

A vision

Jennifer O’Bomsawin proposes the implementation of “representative and inclusive” governance. For the candidate, it is imperative to encourage the involvement of the community within the Council in order to obtain results “in line with who we want to be as a Nation”.

“I am doing this campaign for my daughter, for my goddaughters, my nephews and the children of my friends. It’s for this whole new generation and the seven to come who, at the moment, are not represented and considered,” explains the politician.

To meet the demand of the more than 1,000 members waiting on the list to obtain land, the candidate proposes to diversify the housing supply by facilitating the development of varied housing models, such as two-generational constructions.

While repeating that she does not have the power to “give statuses”, Jennifer O’Bomsawin suggests rethinking the system of transmission of Huron-Wendat citizenship. For her, the Nation must adopt a code which “would reflect our way of seeing things in connection with our intrinsic values ​​and which would ensure the inclusion of children from mixed marriages in the provision of services”.

Ms O’Bomsawin believes that the Nation must have the means to achieve its ambitions. “If we want to create more housing and acquire land, we need independent income. If we want to improve our services, ensure fairness for our members, regardless of where they are or the status they have, that takes money.” According to her, the solution involves diversification of investments and sustained support for Huron-Wendat entrepreneurs.

“These are proposals, is this really what the members want to put forward? We will see through the various consultations,” insists the candidate.

Making connections

Ms O’Bomsawin is convinced that her professional experience is an added value for the position of grand chef. His many years of practice with the government of Quebec and other First Nations should facilitate the transfer of power and the establishment of lasting relationships.

“I know I’m going to be able to do the job. The day I start work, the files are correct. These are all files that I know and on which I have worked,” indicates the candidate.

She assures that the procedures to be followed within the various bodies hold no secrets for her. “I know who to talk to in government, who to call, what to tell them, how to proceed and how to build cases. This detailed knowledge of the government apparatus will be a superb asset for the Nation because it has been in recent years,” she adds, referring to the years spent alongside Grand Chief Vincent.

“Identify the disease”

Relations between the First Nation and the Quebec government, however, remain complicated, recalls the candidate who left her government post in the wake of the scandal surrounding the death of Joyce Echaquan.

The CAQ government’s refusal to recognize systemic racism poses a problem, believes Ms. O’Bomsawin.

“Until you identify the disease, how can you adequately cure it?” she asks, citing an exchange with one of her elders.

She criticizes an “end of inadmissibility” on the part of the government of François Legault. “First Nations are not considered equal. They are not partners at this time. They are considered to be ‘troublemakers’,” said Jennifer O’Bomsawin.

“Victory is already here”

The candidate highlights the positive response from community members so far. “Notwithstanding the political nature, I think people appreciate the person I am,” she says. “I offer you the person that I am. Afterwards, we will develop ideas and visions together.”

“Of course we hope to win to make the vision a reality, but for me, the victory is already there. It’s having a woman on the ballot,” she concludes.

The Sun presents to you, over the coming days, the portrait of the four candidates in the race for the leadership of the Huron-Wendat Nation.

Today: Jennifer O’Bomsawin

Friday: Pierre Picard

Saturday: Michel Gros-Louis

Sunday: René Gros-Louis