Stan Beardy, Ontario regional chief, to retire from politics

Ontario Regional Chief Stan Beardy says after 25 years in politics, he's looking forward to a rest.

The long-time politician is retiring from politics and plans to reconnect with his home community of Muskrat Dam.

"I need a break. I've been away from my home community of Muskrat Dam for a fair number of years," he said.

"I miss the people and I miss the land. So I thought maybe this was the right time to take a break and go up north."

Beardy started his political career, at the age of 28, as the chief of Muskrat Dam First Nation. He went on to serve for 12 years as the Grand Chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation.

Made youth, technology a priority

Politics was never his ambition, but he discovered it suited him.

"I guess I like challenges," Beardy said.

"Looking at politics and the dynamics that go with it, I think it's the challenge that I enjoyed."

His roles with NAN and Chiefs of Ontario both gave him opportunities to focus on youth and technology, he said.

While with NAN, Beardy facilitated the introduction of high speed internet to remote communities.

He was also involved in setting up junior ranger, literacy and sports programs for youth and was involved with setting up a number of new programs and schools at Lakehead University.

"If I were to encourage young people, First Nation people, to want to learn and go into higher learning, I had to help prepare possibilities," Beardy said.

Beardy will not run for re-election in the vote for a new Ontario Regional Chief this Wednesday.

Beardy's biography from the Chiefs of Ontario website:

Regional Chief Stan Beardy was born and raised on a trap line at Bearskin Lake First Nation. He attended high school and college in Thunder Bay where he also worked as a welder-fitter for several years. In order to return to a traditional lifestyle of living off the land, Beardy moved to Muskrat Dam First Nation where he was elected and served as Chief for 10 years.

Regional Chief Beardy has held a variety of leadership positions with several organizations, including Sioux Lookout Chief's Committee on Health, Northern Nishnawbe Education Council, National Aboriginal Economic Development Board and the Northern Ontario Native Tourism Association. In his role as Grand Chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation which he served for 12 unprecedented consecutive years, he represented 49 First Nation communities in Ontario in the territories of James Bay Treaty 9 and the Ontario portion of Treaty 5.

Throughout his time in office, Grand Chief Beardy has worked toward the implementation of traditional governance based on beneficial Treaty relationships with the governments of Ontario and Canada. He continues to champion the inherent rights of First Nations by influencing legislation, yet maintains positive working relationships with all levels of government to continue to make progress for all Peoples in Ontario in his current role as Regional Chief. He was recognized for his efforts in advocacy with the conferring of 2 honourary doctorate degrees, the first in Education by Nipissing University (2011) and the second in Philosophy by University of South Florida (2012).

In 2009, Regional Chief Beardy partnered with the Trillium Gift of Life Network to promote the lifesaving benefits of organ and tissue donation in memory of his late son Daniel. In partnership with Trillium Gift of Life, he and his wife Nellie spearheaded an awareness campaign focused on reaching Ojibway, Cree and OjiCree speaking people in Ontario.

Regional Chief Beardy lives in Thunder Bay with Nellie and together they return home to the land as often as they can.