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'It's like jumping into cold water' Nahanni Butte chief has intensive first week
Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, July 4, 2013
TTHENAAGO/NAHANNI BUTTE
Michael Matou has jumped into his new position with both feet.
During his first week in the position, Michael Matou, the new chief of the Nahanni Butte Dene Band, got a crash course in regional politics at the Dehcho First Nations' annual assembly in Fort Providence. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo
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Matou, 27, was acclaimed as the chief of the Nahanni Butte Dene Band and officially took up the position on June 24. The position became vacant after former chief Clayton Konisenta resigned in late April.
That day, he met briefly with Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche and ministers Tom Beaulieu and Jackson Lafferty who were conducting a series of community visits.
The young chief spent the next three days getting a crash course in regional politics at the Dehcho First Nations' annual assembly in Fort Providence.
"It's like jumping into cold water; eventually I'll get used to it," Matou said about his intensive beginning.
This is Matou's first position with the Nahanni Butte Dene Band leadership.
He was previously on the board of directors for the band's development corporation.
After his siblings and some community members asked him if he would consider running for chief, Matou put his name forward. The community wants a younger perspective on some of the issues and Matou said he knew at some point someone in his generation would have to become chief.
Matou said this is a good time to be chief because he can share the community's input as well his own into the Dehcho Process. At the annual assembly, Matou said he was struck by the work that leaders are putting toward the future through the process.
"Everyone is concerned to create a brighter and better future for the younger generation," he said.
The agreements that are made will be permanent and will affect future generations so leaders have to be careful and critical about what they finalize, he said. Matou said he will bring the different perspectives about the Dehcho Process discussed at the assembly back to his community so the band membership can decide if they support the process.
During the assembly, many of the topics were also focused on saving the water and the land and protecting wildlife, things that are important to Nahanni Butte, said Matou. The community wants safer precautions for developments in the area in order to prevent anything from happening that could harm the land or water, he said.
Matou said the assembly also gave him insight into other community's issues and views.
"I've learned quite a bit," he said.
On a community level, Matou said the main focus of his two-year term will be encouraging students to continue their education, graduate from high school and continue into post-secondary studies. The students should have a chance to see what they can learn and what their career possibilities are, he said.
Matou hopes others will choose to return to the community after their schooling. Matou took a tourism and hospitality program at Grande Prairie Regional College in Alberta. He also spent nine years working for Parks Canada.
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