The recent election of 42 year old Arlen Dumas as grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs is getting thumbs up from local indigenous leaders.

Dakota Tipi First Nation Chief Keith Pashe feels it means good things for his community, especially in regard to being in third party management, which he feels isn't correct.

"And I explained that to Dumas, and said I don't think Dakota Tipi should be in third party management," he says, "Because we're $200,000 in deficit, and that doesn't fall in the threshold of bring in third party. We have chief and council that work with the band, and want to keep the band going. So, Dumas agreed, we have to shed some light on it."

Keith Pashe
 
Dakota Plains Chief Orville Smoke calls him a breath of fresh air, and the community may benefit.

Orville Smoke"At Dakota Plains, we're somewhat isolated, within another treaty band, which isn't bad at all -- we get all the protection we need," he says, "But  our problem is that we need traffic for economic deelopment. We did have it many years ago, and I think if I got talking to Chief Dumas, he might be able to give me a hand with some of the things we need."

Sandy Bay Chief Lance Roulette feels the election of a younger grand chief is an indicator of a trend.

"People at a younger age are becoming more involved to help make a difference within society," he says, "Not only as first nations people, but also as part of the entire mosaic of Canada. And the shift from a lot more younger leaders coming out is creating a foundation that young people are beginning to be part of what they need to do to try and provide a solution."

Lance Roulette

Arlen Dumas is also the chief of Matias Colomb Cree Nation.