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Who will be next?

Author

Paul Barnsley, Windspeaker Staff Writer

Volume

22

Issue

8

Year

2004

Page 10

Councillor Dave General, who gained national notoriety when he accused National Chief Phil Fontaine of "grovelling" before then-Indian Affairs minister Andy Mitchell at this year's spring confederacy of the Assembly of First Nation, is seen as the heir apparent to Chief Roberta Jamieson in the top job on Six Nations of the Grand River territory in Ontario.

While community sources say it's no secret that General will seek to attract Jamieson's core support, the departing chief chose not to publicly declare him her chosen successor.

"I don't think that's my role," she said. "It's up to the people now to select the leadership. I am hopeful that the leadership that is selected will continue in the same direction. Fifty per cent more people than ever voted in the last election. The people felt very strongly and they came out and I'm hopeful that will continue."

Two former chiefs will seek to keep General out of the chief's office. Steve Williams, president of Grand River Enterprises, the company that produces Sago cigarettes, and former Indian Affairs Atlantic regional director general Bill Montour. Local sources say there is some question Montour meets the requirement that a candidate must have resided on the territory for a year before an election.

David "Peewee" Greene, Lewis Staats Jr. and Chad General round out the six-man race.