Richard Zohr

Richard has spent his entire adult life asserting and protecting the aboriginal rights of the Algonquin people. He began serving the community in his late teens, first as a board member and then as chairman of the Bonnechere Algonquin First Nation (BAFN) governing council. Working for essential social and economic services, he successfully developed a housing and repair service, employment retraining programs and several economic development initiatives. Throughout his 30 years of leadership, Richard has developed a number of corporate bodies based on the concept of self-determination to help improve the quality of life for the Algonquin people by instilling the importance of independence and rediscovering of the Algonquin’s legacy. Richard has served as the elected Chief of the BAFN since 2003. The BAFN, which has a membership of over 1,800 people, has prepared an extensive genealogical and in depth history of its community dating back to the early 1600s. He is Vice President of the Algonquin National Tribal Council (ANTC) and is the elected ANR for BAFN. Richard is dedicated to the healing, rebuilding and strengthening of the Algonquin people.