Mandy Gull-Masty resigns as grand chief, announces run for Liberals in northern Quebec

Mandy Gull-Masty has been named the Liberal candidate for the Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou riding in the next federal election.

Speaking at a regular meeting of the Cree Nation Government on Thursday, Gull-Masty cried as she announced she had accepted the nomination.

"It's very hard on me because I love my nation so much," she said. "I did this job with all of my heart. "

In 2021, she was elected as the first female Grand Chief of the Cree Nation Government in Quebec on her platform, which centred on governance, language and culture as well as the economy.

First elected to public office in 2014, she served as deputy chief of her home community, the Cree First Nation of Waswanipi, where she held the finance, administration, housing and mining negotiation portfolios, according to the Grand Council of the Crees.

Gull-Masty said she initially declined the Liberal nomination in order to complete her term as Grand Chief. But at a council board meeting this week, she says communities asked her to reconsider that decision. 

"I was quite surprised," she said during an interview with CBC. 

"They said 'this is an opportunity. This is not an opportunity that comes to everyone. We believe that you have the capacity to pursue this role, we think you have a strong voice.'" 

The Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou riding spans from the province's northwestern border all the way up to Nunavik. The seat is currently held by Bloc Québécois MP Sylvie Bérubé.

Gull-Masty says her biggest challenge will be getting the people of Val d'Or, Que., to "know who I am." Her campaign will officially launch on April 1.

In a news release on Thursday, the Cree Nation Government confirmed Gull-Masty's resignation from the role of grand chief and thanked her for her service to Eeyou Istchee.

"Sending a strong and principled voice to represent us in Parliament to advocate for the advancement of priorities of the Abitibiens, Jamésiens, Nunavimmiut and Eeyouch is an opportunity fully supported by the Cree Nation," read the statement.

Effective March 31, Deputy Grand Chief Norman A. Wapachee will assume the role and responsibility of Grand Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees and Cree Nation Government.