Federal Election 2025 – First Nations Candidate Biographies

April 15, 2025

The Chiefs of Ontario have compiled a list of First Nations candidates running in the upcoming federal election. You can find the full list and additional details below.

NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY (NDP)

Tania Cameron: Kenora—Kiiwetinoong  (ON)

Tania Cameron is a proud member of the Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation in Treaty 3, with a strong commitment to advancing the rights and well-being of Indigenous communities. Over the course of her 30-year career, Tania has worked tirelessly to create meaningful change, focusing on everything from operations and governance to health and wellness.

Tanille Johnston: North Island-Powell River

Tanille Johnston is Liǧʷiłdax̌ʷ from the WeWaiKai First Nation. She was born and raised in Campbell River and now lives there with her husband, two daughters, and two dogs.

Tanille completed both her undergraduate and Master’s degree in Social Work. She works as a Primary Care Manager with Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands as her geographic portfolio.

Kelvin Kotchilea: North West Territories

Kelvin is a champion for Northerners. A proud Tlicho man from Behchoko, he’s fought to make our communities better for everyday people. He works with the Government of Northwest Territories to help protect our natural resources and deliver better education and employment opportunities for families.

Gilbert W. Whiteduck: Pontiac-Kitigan Zibi

Gilbert W. Whiteduck was born in and has lived his whole life in Pontiac Kitigan Zibi , which is in the unceded territory of his Anishinabe Algonquin ancestors.  He and his wife are the parents of three daughters and one son.  With his Algonquin Anishinabe roots firmly grounded in the riding, he believes in the importance of taking care of each other and the lands and waters where we live.

Laura Mayer – Sault Ste. Marie – Algoma (ON)

Laura Mayer is a dedicated leader and proud Anishinaabekwe from Mississauga First Nation, committed to strengthening Indigenous governance, advancing community-led solutions, and fighting for policies that uplift working people.

Leah Gazan – Winnipeg Centre

For nearly three decades, Leah Gazan has been a tireless advocate for human rights, social justice, and community empowerment. As a community leader, educator, advisor and media contributor, she has dedicated her life to creating meaningful change on the local, national, and international stage. In October 2019, Leah made history as the first woman elected as Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre.

Since her election, Leah has worked tirelessly with elected officials, frontline organizations, grassroots leaders, and community volunteers to advance climate, social and economic justice, and social housing. Her unwavering commitment has earned her national and international recognition, including a place on MacLean’s Power List for her influence on Canada’s political agenda. She was also honored by Chatelaine Magazine’s 2024 Doris Anderson Award for her groundbreaking work on the Red Dress Alert System. A member of the Wood Mountain Lakota Nation in Saskatchewan (Treaty 4 territory), Leah continues to fight for justice, equality, and a better future for all.

Lori Idlout – Nunavut

Lori Idlout is a Canadian politician who was elected as part of the New Democratic Party (NDP) in 2021 to represent the riding of Nunavut. Idlout was raised in different Nunavut communities. She spent most of her childhood in Igloolik, a small community which rests on top of Qiqiktaaluk/Baffin Island.

Idlout moved to Iqaluit in preparation for the creation of the Nunavut as a self-governing territory in 1998. She has worked for the Government of Nunavut as a policy analyst and as Executive Director of Embrace Life Council – an organization taking a life affirming approach to improving wellbeing. She completed her Juris Doctor from the University of Ottawa and practiced law in Iqaluit with her own firm, Qusagaq Law Office before becoming a Member of Parliament. Lori has raised nine children with her partner, Allan.

Katherine Swampy – Leduc Wetaskiwin

Katherine Swampy is your NDP candidate for Leduc Wetaskiwin. She has been fighting for First Nations rights since she was 11 years old, and is now an Indigenous leader, advocate, academic, and mother. She served as a band councillor for the Samson Cree Nation for six years and is active on numerous boards and committees.

In her professional life, Katherine is a business development manager, supporting Indigenous women in business. Katherine dances and teaches young girls the jingle dress dance and how to sew traditional regalia. Katherine also counsels youth in her community. She is a fierce advocate for women’s rights, MMIWG, Indigenous Peoples, the environment, and LGTBQ2S+ rights.

LIBERAL

Jaime Battiste – Cape Breton–Canso–Antigonish

Jaime Battiste has represented the riding of Sydney—Victoria in the House of Commons of Canada as a member of the Liberal Party since 2019. A member of the Eskasoni First Nation, he is the first Mi’kmaw member of Parliament (MP) in Canada. Since he was first elected, Mr. Battiste served on various parliamentary committees, including the House of Commons Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs, where he helped review, examine, and report on the issues affecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, and Northerners.

Mr. Battiste previously held positions as a university professor, Treaty Education Lead, and Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Regional Chief. In 2005, the National Aboriginal Health Organization named him as one of the “National Aboriginal Role Models in Canada”. In 2006, as the Chair of the AFN’s Youth Council, he was one of the founding members of the Mi’kmaq Maliseet Atlantic Youth Council (MMAYC), an organization that represents and advocates for Mi’kmaq and Maliseet youth within Atlantic Canada.

Mandy Gull-Masty – Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou

In 2021, Mandy Gull-Masty was elected as the first female Grand Chief of the Cree Nation Government in Quebec on her platform, which centred on governance, language and culture as well as the economy. First elected to public office in 2014, she served as deputy chief of her home community, the Cree First Nation of Waswanipi, where she held the finance, administration, housing and mining negotiation portfolios, according to the Grand Council of the Crees.

Gloria Morgan – Similkameen–South Okanagan–West Kootenay

Gloria Morgan is a BC Reconciliation Award winner, residential school survivor, and former Chief of Splatsin t’e Secwepemc First Nation. She has been a board member at Okanagan College, focused on Indigenous curriculum development, and the Provincial Health Services Authority, among other achievements, according to the BC Lieutenant Governor website detailing her reconciliation award.

In addition to her Board experiences, Gloria was a Federal Adjudicator for the Indian Residential Schools Independent Assessment Process. She is an Elder, and Knowledge Keeper, for the BC First Nations Justice Council, and she is a member of the School District 83 Food Security Working Group, and a Marriage Commissioner.

Julian Moulton – Carleton–Victoria

Julian Moulton is a dedicated leader who has spent nearly half his life immersed in politics and community service. At 34 years old, Julian has been an elected member of the Tobique Band Council for the past eight years, currently serving his second consecutive term. Born and raised in Carleton-Victoria, on the Tobique First Nation Reserve, he has always held a deep commitment to his community and its future.

As a proud Wolastoqey person, Julian is committed to eliminating the barriers that separate Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. He envisions a future where truth, friendship, and peace guide relationships, fostering unity and prosperity for all. Julian believes that by working together, much can be accomplished, ensuring that the next seven generations benefit from the actions, policies, and changes that are made today.

Michelle Corfield – Nanaimo–Ladysmith

Dr. Michelle Corfield is a distinguished First Nations leader, facilitator, and entrepreneur dedicated to advancing First Nations communities through innovative and holistic approaches. In 2006, she founded Corfield & Associates, a consulting firm that specializes in engagement, facilitation, strategic planning, and organizational development for First Nations and organizations working with them.

Beyond her consultancy, Dr. Corfield operates Indigenous Natural Health, an organization focused on developing Indigenous-based wellness products. She also co-developed the Indigenous Business and Leadership Executive MBA program at Simon Fraser University and was a founding partner of Ahp-cii-uk, a British Columbia multi-sectoral leadership initiative aimed at the social and economic development of First Nations. Dr. Corfield is a member of the Ts’uubaa-asatx First Nation, reflecting her deep personal commitment to her community and family.

Charles Fox – Kenora—Kiiwetinoong (ON)

Long committed to public service, Charles Fox has served both as Ontario Regional Chief for the Chiefs of Ontario and as Grand Chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN). His tenure as Grand Chief of NAN was marked by a strong focus on economic and resource development initiatives, treaty rights, and cultural preservation.

Charles is a residential school survivor and an enthusiastic hunter, fisherman, and trapper, and brings personal insight into his advocacy work. Since 2012, he and his partner have operated Penasi, a group home for First Nation boys aged 8 to 12, where they provide traditional skills, knowledge, and therapeutic services through land-based programs. Charles is also a member of Bearskin Lake First Nation, and has developed a significant Energy Efficiency and Conservation Measures Program for Aboriginal Communities, delivering 25 thousand energy conservation kits to First Nation homes in Ontario and developed an energy focused curriculum.

Wade Grant – Vancouver Quadra

Wade’s career has been defined by service, leadership, and a deep commitment to reconciliation and inclusion. He served as an elected councillor for the Musqueam for nearly a decade and later joined the Vancouver Police Board, where he helped lead efforts to modernize policing and strengthen public trust. He has also held leadership roles with organizations like Covenant House Vancouver, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada, and the First Nations Health Council—working to ensure vulnerable youth and Indigenous communities have a strong voice and real opportunities. Wade was born and raised in Vancouver Quadra and is a proud member of the Musqueam Indian Band.

Ken Robertson – Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies

Ken Robertson is Secwépemc from the Neskonlith Indian Band in south-central British Columbia.  As a local leader and Liberal Candidate, he is passionate about building a fairer, greener economy and creating opportunities that benefit all families in the region. Ken’s vision is shaped by his personal values and a legacy of resilience. As the grandson of Elder Sarah Ida Deneault, a survivor of the Kamloops Indian Residential School, Ken carries forward a legacy of strength and cultural pride. His advocacy is grounded in his lived experience and guided by the teachings of the Seven Grandparents.

Ken Robertson’s career has been defined by his passionate advocacy, particularly for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). He has served on boards and working groups with federal, provincial, and municipal governments as well as the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences’ Social Inclusion Working Group. Ken also provides traditional guidance to families of children with autism. His dedication to this cause earned him the Meritorious Service Decoration (Civil Division) from the Governor General of Canada in 2020. Ken is also a small business owner who provides cultural competency consultations to organizations, not-for-profits, NGOs, charities, social enterprises, governments, and academic researchers, helping bridge gaps and foster greater understanding in diverse settings.

GREEN PARTY

Rainbow Eyes – North West Territories

Rainbow Eyes is a member of the Da’naxda’xw/Awaetlala First Nation, whose traditional territory includes Knight Inlet, at the southern end of the Great Bear Rainforest. From working as a trained Land Guardian with her Nation to defending the last stands of old-growth forests on Vancouver Island at Fairy Creek, Rainbow Eyes has dedicated herself to protecting the land. Now, she is navigating and experiencing the colonial court system while working to uphold Indigenous and Natural Laws.

Since her time in the forest, Rainbow Eyes has been on “Creator Time”, following Elders and building connections within the Green Party of Canada—connections that led to her role as Ooh-mah Ah-nise / Deputy Leader. She now serves on the Indigenous Peoples’ Advisory Circle of the Green Party, is an elected Councillor for her Nation, and sits on the board of the Northwest Indigenous Council.

Natasha Akiwenzie – Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound (ON)

Akiwenzie is a member of Obizhigokaang north of Sioux Lookout but now resides at Cape Croker with her husband and three grown sons, where they have a small farm with goats and chickens. She is the manager of the not-for-profit Bagidi’waad Alliance and executive director the Gidakiinan Land Trust. Bagidi’waad does climate research on the waters of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, promotes education and does stewardship of local lands and waters.

Robyn Eshkibok – Sault Ste. Marie—Algoma (ON)

Robyn “Kiki” Eshkibok comes from Wiikwemkoong, Ketegaunzeebee, and Bawating, and was born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, Brookfield. She is an Ojibwe Ogichidaa and a proud mother of three. Robyn believes our path to sustainability must be led by our Clan System, language, and strong alliances. She is currently a student at Algoma University, studying Law, Political Science, and Anishinaabemowin. Her vision includes incorporating Anishinaabe teachings, and embracing what it truly means to live in harmony with Creation and with one another.

Adeana Young – Skeena—Bulkley Valley

Adeana Young is of Haida descent and was born and raised on Haida Gwaii, where she continues to live today. She is an elementary Haida language teacher, an elected director on the Niislaa Naay Healing House Board, and has been actively involved in local politics for over ten years. She is also a proud mother of four.

She is a former spokesperson for Gaandlee Guu Jaalang (Daughters of the Rivers), a group that practices land occupation, food sovereignty, and safety in collaboration with allies. Solution-driven and deeply engaged in reconciliation, Adeana is committed to the ongoing journey toward justice and healing across the nation.

CONSERVATIVE

Billy Morin – Edmonton North West

Born in Edmonton, Billy Morin is a recognized local leader; having been Chief of the Enoch Cree Nation (2015 – 2022). Noted for his ability to create unprecedented partnerships with Indigenous peoples and Canadians across economic and social sectors; he is known as a national champion for reconciliation. This includes the City of Edmonton Enoch MOU, the first large municipality First Nation agreement in Canada that resulted in coordinated fire, policing, social supports, utility infrastructure and governance enhancements for both communities.

Billy is a community builder, having secured over $500,000 million in infrastructure and business development for Enoch alone during his time as Chief. This includes new businesses that currently employ over 600 Edmontonians. He is a proud advocate for responsible natural resource development for the benefit of all Canadians – the foundation of the Alberta economy.

Jim Lemaigre – Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River

Jim Lemaigre has been an elected member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan since winning the 2022 Athabasca provincial by-election. He defeated former federal MP Georgina Jolibois and won the traditional New Democratic stronghold constituency for the Saskatchewan Party. It was the first time a right-wing party has held the seat since its creation in 1908. He is a member of the Clearwater River Dene Nation.

NT5