Kwe to the members of Barriere Lake.

Ihave accepted my
nomination as Chief for another term. Iwill need your vote
come election dayon March 10.

Why I’m running

Allow me to share with you why you should
vote for me and allow me to highlight the
accomplishments of our community during
the two (2) years despite the many
challenges and hardships we endured. I
must say that 2 years is not a long term
when we try to strategically unravel many
years of oppression, dealing with impacts of
intergenerational effects of residential
schools and assimilation
policies/legislations that continues to erode
our identity. I have always strongly advocated for ABL rights and interest.

During my term, I had an ambitious goal for our community members, especially our young people and I
also recognized that I had inherited from the previous leadership’s outstanding 155 reports, and it has
now landed at 22 outstanding reports. It has to continue to go down. We have to ensure transparency
and accountability to our members and stakeholders and so whoever gets in as an elected official will
have to deal with governments, bureaucracy and others, including our members.

There were many challenges and hardships during my mandate during such a time of COVID-19 with
restrictions and measures that were put in place, the lateral violence, domestic violence, losing loved
ones and we are all in there, and as well with high rate of suicidal ideations and many members
suffering from mental illnesses, over 300 hundred criminal court cases, alcohol and drug addictions, the
lack of getting full participation from council members for council meeting, the lack of meeting and
cooperation from managers. (Reference from MNP MEMO dated December 29, 2022). There are a lot
more things that we need to do to improve our living conditions and to become a healthy community
and to get there we have to work together.

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Despite of all this, these are our ABL accomplishments:

● We are in court litigation challenging the constitutionality of Quebec Mining Act. ABL was
supported by AFNQL Chiefs of Quebec representing 43 Quebec First Nation communities.

● Rebooting the realization of the Master Plan adopted in 1996 for the expansion of the ABL
community. Memorandum of Mutual Intent signed by Late Former Customary Chief Harry
Wawatie
● Restarting the new housing construction programme with the
planning of a first model home for one of the new sites on the
new road built in 2002.
● The announcement of the planning and consultation for the
first new model home with the billboard on the site.
● Maintaining the $2.4 M that had already been earmarked for
housing. (The 12 units duplexes)
● Making sure that emergency action was done to help give
shelter to members of the community in need at the
Friendship Centre in Maniwaki this winter.
● Procuring new special emergency funding of $2.2 M for 6 new
permanent houses in the community.
● The continuing upgrading of community infrastructure, including water and sewer works and
road paving to be done this summer.
● Getting an agreement with the First Nations education council for the building of a new school
and to get temporary trailer units for classroom learning. There is a lot that we can help develop
our school curriculum using our research from our studies.
● Signing of the implementation Agreement(although we have 5 wildlife species such as moose,
bear, small fur bearing animals and fish in the Implementation Agreement) including the ABL-
QUEBEC MOU on moose moratorium on ABL Territory and assisting on the realization of an

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 MOU between QUEBEC -AANTC on La Verendrye Park. Negotiate with Québec an agreement for
a moratorium on moose hunting in the ABL Traditional Territory.
● Negotiating with Hydro-Québec for an agreement to provide electricity to the community that
respects the conditions laid down by ABL (no development on the corridor between Grand-
Remous and Rapid Lake without consultation and agreement by ABL, a five-year moratorium
on billing for electrical services and central billing through the Council after the 5 years).
● Obtaining a commitment from ISC to provide additional electricity to meet the increased needs
of the community while the Hydro-Québec line is being built.
● Obtaining the approval by the Régie des entreprises du Québec (REQ) for the creation of the
ABL Development Corporation. This puts ABL in the position of being able to collect the money
owed to it by Québec ($3 million by April 2023.) Had the Agreement with Quebec been signed in
July 2017 as we had committed to do in a unanimous BCR, we could have benefitted from
another $ 5.6 million.
● Working with the transport minister to initiate discussions for a building of a service station and
cultural showcase center that will provide employment for members of the community.
● Bringing order to the management of files and reports that were left outstanding by the
previous administration. (The reduction from over 150 outstanding reports two years ago to 22
outstanding reports now.)
● Making a 4 year management plan to develop the needed management skills and expertise to
repatriate by 2024 the work now done by outside co- managers.
● MONTHLY NEWSLETTER PUBLISHING and working on an ABL website, nearly in completion.
● Creation and development of a new baseball field. New project in Summer 2023 for Baseball
field lights to create and encourage our young athletes to continue to chase their passion for
sports
● Creation( and still ongoing) of land base healing cultural center and designing of culturally
relevant and culturally sensitive approaches based on our connection to the land “Kekegan

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 project,” Kekegan meaning the landmark that helps guide you in case of being lost and is
symbolic of this Healing that needs to take place as we hold sacred connection.

Again, with a mandate of two years, it is never enough to ensure continuity. There are certain things
that I needed to do that was impossible to do; I will humbly
commit myself and continue to strongly advocate for our rights
and interest.

In this mandate if voted in, I will continue to nurture these many

lists of accomplishments, with an inclusive process. Please vote
for me in the upcoming election.

I can honestly say that I am not perfect and made my mistakes

from trial and error, just as each and everyone of us and further
bettering myself. I accept responsibility and there are things that I
need to work on, we are all humans and have a story.

There are many good things to come for our young people
including housing developments, including a new school,
infrastructure, training, land expansion and service stations for
the community. We will need to engage in the development of our economy and self-determination.

During my mandate I will be more present and ensure we work on the collective approach and interest
of the members. We have a lot of issues in each department, and it needs to be dealt with. We need to
build our capacity and train our young people for a better tomorrow.

I will also work on building on our traditional system of governance based on the declaration we signed
in 1996. Our young people need to learn about this. I will continue to work on bringing back our customs

and Onakinegewiin.

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We must also understand what the governments are trying to do to our community and how to
strategically approach the government.

I encourage you to vote for me on March 10, 2023.

RE-ELECT TONY WAWATIE, VOTE FOR TONY WAWATIE AS CHIEF

” Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children.” ~ Chief Sitting Bull