Russell Wesley
Chief

Cat Lake First Nation

Chief Russell Wesley, from Cat Lake First Nation in Treaty 9 Territory, is dedicated to community development and regional collaboration. Serving as Chief from 2013-2016 and currently, he has championed land and resource preservation rooted in Indigenous traditions and Elders’ teachings. Russell has significantly influenced policies across federal and provincial governments, including Indigenous Affairs, Natural Resources, and Northern Development mandates.

In 2017, his regional leadership was evident in his creation of Ontario’s first Shared Territory Protocol, guiding resource development among neighboring First Nations. In 2022, he negotiated Ontario’s first Indigenous-led impact assessment for the Springpole Mine Gold Project, empowering his community’s environmental sovereignty. Currently leading a community-focused bio-economy and biomass initiative that combines local and Scandinavian expertise.  In addition to his recent induction to the Clean50, he is widely recognized for his environmental and Indigenous rights advocacy.

For context: Cat Lake First Nation is a northwestern Ontario, Anishinaabe (Ojibway) speaking community located 180 km north of Sioux Lookout. It is accessible by air or winter road from Pickle Lake.