The new chief of the We’koqma’q First Nation says it was time.
Annie Bernard-Daisley, who spent six years as a councillor, defeated Rod Googoo, the incumbent chief, in band council elections Oct 7.
Bernard-Daisley tells The Hawk her advocacy record speaks for itself, and she’s ready for the job.
“I know the skills I’ve learned in the last few years will definitely assist me in my new title here; the biggest question I got (was) ‘Oh you’re going to be so busy’ but I’ve already been busy,” she says. “I was president of (the) Nova Scotia Native Women’s Association, which I still am, and I was also a band councillor (and) mother of three- I’m busy enough, this is nothing new for me to be this busy.”
Bernard-Daisley says she will step down as NSNWA president at the next annual general assembly within the next couple of months, and they’ve already lessened her duties so she can dedicate more time and focus on being We’koqma’q’s chief.
She says she will stay on as the association’s lead chief and maintain the women’s file in the province.
Bernard-Daisley says her first priority is to strengthen what We’koqma’q already has.
“You have to strengthen what you have in-house before you can move forward and make plans,” she says. “It isn’t until then you have that strength that you can go out and really get some dreams going.”
Bernard-Daisley says she has a vision, but she’s not ready to reveal the details just yet.
