RoseAnne Archibald of Taykwa Tagamou Nation elected Ontario Regional Chief

Chiefs of Ontario says a new Ontario Regional Chief has been elected.

RoseAnne Archibald of Taykwa Tagamou Nation was elected on Wednesday at the 44th annual All Ontario Chiefs conference in Nipissing First Nation.

Isadore Day of the Serpent River First Nation lost his bid to be re-elected for a second term.

Archibald is the first woman to hold the position. According to Chiefs of Ontario, the regional chief is a member of the Assembly of First Nations National Executive and the Chair of the Political Confederacy for the Chiefs of Ontario. The regional chief deals with provincial and federal governments on issues relevant to First Nations within Ontario.

She says she ran on a platform of calm, respectful, heart-centred leadership.

'So awesome'

"Heart-centred is about coming from a place of deep and abiding love for our people," she said.

"I believe that's a central way that women carry themselves in life and we bring that to leadership."

Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Glen Hare says he's pleased a woman was elected to the role for the first time.

"That gives us a good picture of where our governance is going in our communities," he said.

"There are more female leaders in our communities and that's so awesome to see. We're getting more balance and there are lots of new ideas at the table."

Taykwa Tagamou is a small Cree community of a few hundred people along the banks of the Abitibi River in northeastern Ontario, formally known as New Post First Nation.