Six Nations Elected Chief Mark Hill has given his public support for one candidate in the upcoming Six Nations General Election.

The Nov. 4 election will decide who will be voted on to sit on Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC). The community will vote from 13 community members running for 12 councillor positions, and two members running for the position of Six Nations Chief: Sherri Lyn Hill and Steve Williams.

Chief Hill released a Facebook live video last Thursday officially endorsing candidate Hill. Candidate Hill was in attendance with the chief during his statement and thanked him for his endorsement after his comments.

"Thank you to Chief Mark Hill for supporting and believing in my campaign in becoming the next elected chief," she said.

"I've been fortunate to work with Chief Hill as an elected councilor and I've learned a lot from him as a leader," she added.

Chief Hill also spoke on Williams as a candidate and said that he wanted to clarify comments made by Williams at the Oct. 25 chief candidate debate. Some of those comments ranged in topics surrounding the lack of work the current council was able to accomplish, the First Nations Drinking Water Settlement, and bullying.

Chief Hill commented on the lack of work criticism and stated that this current council's term was in charge of navigating through the COVID-19 pandemic to which Six Nations closed down the territory's roads to only allow access to Six Nations Band Members and essential employees.

"I take great offense to those statements, and in fact the remaining councilors who he's also talking about should take great offense to that statement as well because I know for a fact that this council worked diligently," he said.

"I want to remind Mr. Williams that that this council was able to respond to a worldwide pandemic and that the only thing on our minds was saving lives."

Chief Hill also made comments on Williams receiving a letter and declining to join the Six Nations Anti-Bullying Task Force from Chief Hill. Chief Hill said that he never sent a letter to Williams and has been bullied by William's throughout his term in office as Chief.

"I have never sent a letter in this regard. The Anti-Bullying Task Force was set upon the administration side to then have community members drive what that mandate looks like and how and who would be sitting at that table," he said.

"On the topic of bullying, I don't even know why I would call Steve Williams on bullying issues when he's been the biggest bully on me this entire term."

CJKS contacted Williams for a comment on the chief's public statement. In an email response provided to CJKS, the candidate said he did not agree with the current chief endorsing candidate Hill and that he believes Chief Hill is trying to interfere in the election.

"As a former Chief we all had a gentleman's agreement to not endorse another candidate for chief [and to] let the people decide. To me its was like he was trying to interfere in the election. Which is against most laws," Williams wrote. "And my opponent shouldn't have been any part of that but she was there with him."

The Six Nations General Election is set to take place Nov. 4 at the Six Nations Community Hall.

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