Ghislain Picard, AFN regional Chief of Quebec and Labrador, not seeking another term

Ghislain Picard, the regional chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador (AFNQL), won’t be seeking another mandate for another term.

Picard has been serving as regional chief for more than 30 years. Radio-Canada’s Espaces autochtones confirmed that Chief Picard informed the 43 chiefs of the AFNQL in an internal letter written on December 19.

“I lift up his work. I lift him up as a person. He’s been such a good person for the Assembly of First Nations, for this country to have his voice at the table all the time, his stability, his unwavering support for First Nations people,” said Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN).

“It will be very sad to lose him and his expertise around the executive table.”

Regional Chief Picard was first elected head of the AFNQL in 1992. National Chief Woodhouse Nepinak says that Picard served several important roles for the AFN.

“His support, his advice on many, many important issues, on policing, for instance. He can remember things from many, many years ago. I know that we had talked about policing,” said Woodhouse Nepinak, adding, “we’d called for an inquiry into policing and the deaths of First Nations people across this country in December. We’re always going to call upon him.”

“Having him at that table, around that table, is such an integral part of who we are as the Assembly of First Nations.”

CityNews reached out to the AFNQL for an interview with Chief Picard, but was told interviews on this subject were not being given at this time.

“He’s a private person, but at the same time, you know, with all the work he’s really humble. And his humility is also something I think that we can learn all from,” explained Marjolaine Sioui, the executive director of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission (FNQLHSSC).

Quebec’s Minister Responsible for Relations with the First Nations and the Inuit, Ian Lafrenière, addressed Chief Picard directly in a post on X saying that they had debates, disagreements and difficult times, but that they were two men who respected each other and did their best to move forward and understand each other.

“One of his main focus was always the children. And, you know, the children of what we can do for them now, but also of the future generation. So it’s always been at the back of his mind. And I believe that in every file that I’ve seen, you know, stand for and all, it’s always been the children first,” said Sioui.

Woodhouse Nepinak adds, “his honour, his respect for First Nations people, his standing with the mothers in December really stands out for me. Mothers that are talking about their deceased children when it comes to police brutality and the murders of First Nations people by the hands of colonial police forces. Him standing up with those mothers stands with me, and we all appreciate it. I know that it was a hard moment and he went and stood with them, and we appreciate him very much for that.”