Phyllis Williams is a member of Curve Lake First Nation and currently the Manager of Health and Social Services at Alderville First Nation. She was recently honored with the Tony Jocko Memorial Heroes in Health Award.
She served 3 terms as Chief of Curve Lake First Nation and was Council member for 16 years. As a start of her career, she was a Manager for Whetung Arts and Crafts Centre, Curve Lake’s Economic and Employment Development Officer, Administrator for Trent University Indigenous Studies. She held positions of Health Advisor then Health Director for Anishinabek Nation. She then worked in Toronto to be Health Manager for Anishnawbe Health, and moved on to Assistant Director for the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres.
Phyllis served on various committees like the Anishinabek Nation Chiefs Committee for Health, Chiefs Committee on Governance, and the Chiefs Council for Anishinabek Police Services, to name a few. Today she is an active participant for the Health Transformation Working Group and assisting Oshawa’s Lakeridge Health Cancer Centre Indigenous Advisory Committee to develop strategies while addressing inequities and racism for Indigenous patient care. Phyllis participated in the development of the Aboriginal Health Policy of Ontario and the Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy.
She served several years as a representative of Curve Lake for the Board of Directors for Peterborough/City/County Health Unit where she influenced the development of an Indigenous Advisory Committee to ensure the Indigenous voice and recommendations. She served on the Peterborough Regional Hospital Board of Directors.
These rich and fulfilling experiences, inclusive of volunteer and committee opportunities over many years has enabled her to have direct contact with clients, agencies, leaders, elders, provincial and federal connections. She was a strong advocate for Curve Lake’s safe drinking water and treatment facility. She spoke at various forums for Sustainable Natural Resources; was guest speaker at an Int’l Conference of Ecology in Spain. She was participant and facilitator for Harvard Un. Indigenous Economic Development Studies, where she presented Curve Lake’s Elder/Youth Engagement video project referred as “Seeds of Good Life” involving 12 Elders and 12 Youth.
While Chief, she served as an Advisory Ambassador and assisted fund-raising efforts for the Peterborough Canoe Museum. She is currently a volunteer member to the National Board of Directors.
As Chief, Phyllis was signatory with 4 Michi Saagiig Chiefs for the Treaty 20 settlement of the Flooded Land Claim, 1 of 6 Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Chiefs who accomplished the Williams Treaty 23 negotiated claim with the Federal and Provincial Governments.
For relaxation and enjoyment, she loves the peace of her seasonal cabin life on Fox Island, part of Curve Lake’s land base, time on the lakes and golf courses, and the fun times with her grandchildren. She continues to appreciate the history and contributions of First Nations along with the wise teachings shared by Indigenous Leaders, Elders, Youth, and Knowledge Keepers. Miigwetch.
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