Mental health, addictions service and youth input top priorities for new elected chief of Six Nations

The new elected chief of Six Nations of the Grand River, Sherri-Lyn Hill, says her first priority is strengthening the community from within. 

"This involves fostering better communication, nurturing our culture and ensuring that the needs of every member are met," Hill told reporters in the council chambers Wednesday. 

Hill, who was a councillor going into the election, won the title of elected chief on Saturday after receiving 606 votes. She is set to serve a four-year term. 

A certified First Nations addictions counsellor, Hill said another priority of hers is improving community mental health and dealing with addictions.

She said Six Nations, the most populous reserve in the country, lacks local resources such as a detox or residential treatment centre.

"I think when we can sit here and work together and start having these types of programs in the community, then people can start healing," she said, adding the effects of intergenerational trauma must be recognized.

Hill said she's open to working with other leaders, be it neighbouring municipalities, the provincial government, the federal government or the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council, the traditional leaders of the Haudenosaunee people, who some in the community see as their representatives.

The hereditary chiefs are separate from the elected council, also called the band council, a governance system the Canadian government created and imposed under the Indian Act.

Last week, one community member told CBC Hamilton they hope those two bodies can collaborate. 

"The door is open to work and to ensure that Six Nations is at the table," Hill said Wednesday. "This council is open to sitting down and hopefully we can work together."

Another priority, Hill said, is empowering youth, who she called "our future of Six Nations." 

Hill said she'll do this by improving educational opportunities, and that she'd like to have a youth representative in the council chambers.

"Myself and 12 councillors don't have all the answers. Having that youth representative would be great for their input, because they're the next generation."