First woman appointed to head Treaty 6 Confederacy

The only woman Chief in the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations is now wearing the headdress of Grand Chief.

“I was shocked to learn I was the first woman Grand Chief (for Treaty 6 Confederacy). I guess I made history,” said Bernice Martial, who also serves as Cold Lake First Nation Chief.

Competing against men and winning is not new for Martial. When she won the election as Chief for Cold Lake First Nation she was the only woman seeking that position.

“I thought to myself, ‘We’re all equal,” she said. “And I’m not afraid to address concerns. I have my own way of addressing concerns, try to do something about it. I’m not the type of person who is aggressive either. I learned to listen before I speak.”

She has served as Chief of CLFN since July 2013.

Martial was appointed at the end of October 2014 to replace Grand Chief Craig Makinaw, of the Ermineskin Cree Nation. A special ceremony was held mid-December. Martial says she has “no idea” why Makinaw was replaced. The appointment is made annually by a motion of the Chiefs. Martial will hold the position until July.

She says she “felt pretty good” about receiving the support of the Treaty 6 Chiefs along with the Elders.

Getting the appointment was “overwhelming,” she says, but upon giving it careful consideration, she decided to accept the responsibility, which she takes seriously.

Martial categorizes her leadership style as one in which she is not afraid to take action and get results.

“I’m the type of person that gets the job done. I make commitments, I make my determination to succeed,” she said. “I’m pretty dedicated to what I’m doing.”

Martial says her priorities with Treaty 6 are the same as her priorities with her own First Nation: education, health and child welfare issues.

“As leaders at this time we’re going through all the legislation and the policies that the government is imposing on us and to put a good position paper in place (for the chiefs) to all work together,” she said. “I feel that Treaty 6 is in a real good position to go forward.”

Martial says she is uncertain as to whether she will seek to extend her position as Grand Chief.

“I usually don’t think that far ahead,” she said. “I just live for today. If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be. If it’s not meant to be, it’s not meant to be. That’s just the way I take life in general.”