On November 10, 2025 Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation suffered the loss of our long standing Chief Lorraine Cobiness (Wabishki Makinaa Kwe or White Turtle Woman).
Chief Cobiness was an outstanding mother, loving grandmother, and a courageous and tenacious leader. Chief Cobiness first served as Health & Social Development Manager for 3 years prior to her election as Chief in 2008 and was reelected to 9 consecutive terms as Chief.
Under her leadership our community saw removal from third party management, clean audits for every single term, our land grievance settled, an excellent municipal-level water plant built, sturgeon reintroduced, numerous houses being built, return to custom governance, and profitability with Mitigoog/Miisun. Chief Cobiness was also a key figure in the All Nations Hospital effort, the twinning of Highway 17, and so much more.
Chief Cobiness constantly battled and fought for her Band Members and her tenacity in battling all levels of government and holding them to account never wavered. Recently described by a newspaper as perhaps one of the most impactful and game-changing Chiefs in the country, Chief Cobiness never tired or stopped being an advocate for First Nation rights and her people.
Niisaachewan will always be grateful for the 21+ years of service, leadership, and effort given by Chief Lorraine Cobiness.