R. Stacey LaForme

R. Stacey LaForme is the former Chief of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation (MNCFN). Born and raised on MNCFN, Chief Laforme has served his community for over twenty years, being first elected to council in 1999.

Chief Laforme has participated in a number of committees and boards throughout his seven terms served as a Councillor, including involvement with the MNCFN’s Pan Am Games Secretariat (PAGS). As Chair of the PAGS Committee, Chief LaForme was instrumental in raising the profile of all First Nations through the recognition of the MNCFN as the first ever official Host First Nation of the Pan Am/Parapan Am Games. Chief LaForme is committed to increasing involvement and communication between Elected Council and both on and off-reserve membership. He is very active throughout MNFCN’s traditional territory, which encompasses 3.9 million acres of Southern Ontario, not only as a Chief, but as a notable storyteller and poet. His best known poem is Remember. Its words are on the Veterans Memorial, and a reading of it is available on You Tube. His most recently published volume of poetry is titled Living in the Tall Grass: Poems of Reconciliation.