Grand Chief Garrison

Garrison Settee is from the Pimicikamak Cree Nation in Northern Manitoba. He was raised speaking his language where his parents instilled strong spiritual values along with a valued work ethic that keep him grounded to this day.

A career educator, Settee has his Bachelor of Education degree from Brandon University and taught for many years at the high school level, his focus on First Nation Studies and Aboriginal Law where he introduced his students to Aboriginal Rights and Treaties. He also served as a Vice-Principal at the administrative level before being encouraged by his community to let his name stand for leadership at the community level.

After giving the matter some thought he answered the call and was elected as a band councillor and eventually Chief of the Pimicikamak Cree Nation. Settee then embarked on a path of service that led him to various positions at the regional level including the MKO and AMC Executive Council and becoming involved on the Chiefs Committee on Education and the Peace Keeper Patrol-Gang Violence Strategy.

His service to Indigenous peoples is remarkable as he has advocated for justice for Indigenous women and girls at the Assembly of First Nations and represented MKO’s lobbying efforts for the implementation of Jordan’s Principle where he managed to get the issue onto the floor of Parliament for the first time. He has pushed Indigenous issues to the international level, bringing Canada’s treatment of Indigenous peoples to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

Today he serves as Grand Chief of the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak where he represents 26 northern Manitoba First Nations communities, bringing their issues to the forefront of governments as works tirelessly to improve the lives of the communities he represents.