Roles of Chief & Council

Mikisew Cree First Nation is the government administration organization that represents the interests of the Mikisew Cree First Nation members.  An elected Chief and Council provide guidance and direction to the administration staff under the leadership of the Chief Executive Officer.  The Mikisew Cree First Nation provides a range of services and operates a variety of social and other programs serving their members.  It also serves an advocacy role on behalf of the members’ treaty rights and entitlements, and a stewardship role in protection of the lands and resources owned by the membership. 

Mikisew Cree First Nation is a self-governing First Nation registered under the Indian Act of Canada, with a number of Reserves allocated for its use.  It is listed as a Not-for-Profit Corporation within the meaning of the Companies Act and the Income Tax Act.

Chief and Council are elected by the membership in a direct vote every three years.  (The most recent election was June 2008). The Chief and Council are legally recognized as the leaders of the government on behalf of the members.  There is one Chief and six Councillors elected.  The Council as a whole makes decisions, and is required by the members to meet regularly to conduct members business together.

The Chief is the spokesperson and overall leader, who provides vision and chairs the council meetings.  The Chief selects which councillors will sit on which committees and serve as which portfolio leaders.

Each councillor is selected to chair a portfolio, which is an area of the First Nation’s business or operations or areas of interest.  The Portfolio chair takes a leadership position with that portfolio, and becomes the “sector expert” providing guidance to their fellow councillors.  Depending on circumstances the portfolio chair may serve as the chair or sit as council’s representative to boards and agencies in the functional area in which they operate.  The current Council has a portfolio chair in the areas of:

•    Youth and Justice
•    Community Services (Health and Social Enhancement) and Culture
•    Technical Services (Public Works and Housing)
•    Economic Development (including corporate affairs)
•    Education, Employment & Training
•    Finance
•    Environment, Treaties and Legal Affairs
•    Government & Industry Relations