New Caldwell Chief looking forward to future

By Mark Ribble

The new Chief of Caldwell First Nation is no stranger to being a leader in her community and is looking forward to forging ahead with an always-improving relationship with local residents and leadership.

Nikki van Oirschot was elected on September 14 as the new Chief by her fellow Caldwell members, following a three-year stint as a Caldwell councillor.

She defeated incumbent Chief Mary Duckworth 143-102 for the Chief’s position, with another former Chief, Larry Johnson, garnering five votes.

Chief van Oirschot says she’s been busy settling in but feels the time is right for her to handle this position. She says that last Monday’s Truth and Reconciliation Walk was a testament to the support they are receiving from the community.

“I think a good example was Monday, having that walk and how many people came out,” she said. “That’s a good indication of the support we have, not only as a people, but as a community.”

“When we have events that we open up to the public, we really do want their participation,” she added. “We want them to understand the community of Caldwell, the deep history and that we’ve always been here and have always had our people here.”

Chief van Oirschot says there are currently about 500 members of Caldwell First Nation (including youth) not just in Leamington, but also all over Ontario and even out west into the prairie provinces and in the United States. That number is growing and she says she expects it to grow even more over time.

She says it’s been a busy three weeks so far, trying to juggle the needs of the community and answer any questions and concerns by members, no matter where they are located.

“How do we best serve people who live here and want to live here, but also address the needs of people who are off-reserve,” she says. “Because they’re still our people, regardless of where they live.”

The new subdivision on the reserve off Mersea Rd. 1 has completed the first phase of construction and those homes are all filled as of this week, but Chief van Oirschot says they need to look beyond just building.

“We can’t only focus on building homes,” she added. “We also have to focus on job creation.”

Plans for the future include economic development, job creation, education and building homes.

“We want to reinvigorate what we’re able to achieve and capitalize on the tourism that comes to this area,” she said. “We’ve got Point Pelee National Park and a lot of other great attractions. How can we become part of that benefit when people are coming here anyway?”

“We want to listen to all the opportunities we have at our fingertips, what’s going to be best for the community overall and making sure all the decisions we make are in line with the community’s vision.”

Chief van Oirschot, whose roots are right here in Leamington, says their community wants a great relationship with the Leamington residents.

“We’re here to be good neighbours, to live together, work together and cohabitate in the same region,” she says. “We appreciate how welcoming the Leamington community is and we want to continue to enhance that and encourage them to participate with Caldwell on certain things.”

 “Feel free to talk to us, ask us questions. Reach out to leadership,” she says. “We don’t have any shut doors. The door is always open.”

The Caldwells won a land claim settlement in 2011 and gained reserve status in 2020, after 230-year battle to regain their land.

As the buzz from the recent election dies down, the work begins, and it’s evident Nikki van Oirschot wants to work hard for her members and spend the next three years advancing and enhancing their lives, along with her new council of Melissa Reid, Stan Scott, Randy DeGraw and Ian Duckworth.