Chief Junior Gould provided a greeting at UPSE’s Annual Convention. Chief Gould is a strong Mi’kmaq leader who commenced his second term as Chief in June of 2019. Since 2019, in his dual role as Chief and Band Administrator, Chief Gould has led the community through a robust period of growth. He spoke about the importance of labour and that workers have always been the backbone of any society.
He strives to make improvements for his community, with focuses on economic development, job creation, housing, health and wellness, and government-to-government reconciliation.
Chief Gould emphasized the importance of culture and language and recognizing the traditions of his people who have been here for more than 10,000 years.
He also spoke about prejudice and how these attitudes affect his people. He believes in education, hard work, and equal treatment for all. However, prejudice and narrow minded thinking does not promote fairness or understanding. Chief Gould wants to see more fairness and understanding and that people treat each other well regardless of their background.