What We Do
We operate under the Charter of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN). As part of the AFN, the PEI Office of the Regional Chief (ORC) represents and advocates for the interests of First Nations in Epekwitk (Prince Edward Island) while also contributing to national advocacy efforts for all Indigenous peoples in Canada. Our office ensures that the voices, rights, and priorities of PEI’s First Nations are heard at the regional and national levels. Working with local leaders and communities, the PEI ORC is committed to meaningful change in policies and programs that impact Indigenous communities on Prince Edward Island and across the country.
Importantly, our office does not participate in Band governance. We do, however, work closely with the Chiefs of Lennox Island First Nation and Abegweit First Nation to ensure the unique issues facing the Island’s Indigenous communities.
The PEI Office of the Regional Chief serves as a bridge between First Nations leadership, community members, and national advocacy efforts. While we are deeply committed to the First Nations of PEI, our work extends beyond provincial borders. We support national efforts to advance Indigenous rights, self-determination, and equity for all Indigenous peoples in Canada. We work in partnership with Chiefs, Elders, youth, community members, national Indigenous organizations, and advocacy groups.
How We Do Our Work
Our office engages in advocacy, policy development, and relationship-building with all levels of government, organizations, and institutions. We work to:
- Advance Indigenous rights, sovereignty, and self-determination.
- Advocate for policy changes that benefit PEI First Nations and Indigenous peoples across Canada.
- Support community-driven initiatives that align with national Indigenous priorities.
- Facilitate collaboration between First Nations, government agencies, and organizations.
- Represent PEI’s First Nations at the AFN while contributing to national Indigenous advocacy efforts.
Why It Matters
The work of the PEI Office of the Regional Chief is rooted in the well-being, strength, and future of Indigenous peoples. By advocating for policies and initiatives that reflect the needs of both PEI’s First Nations and Indigenous communities across Canada, we help ensure that Indigenous peoples have access to opportunities, resources, and protections that support their growth and self-determination. Our efforts are grounded in Mi’kmaq values, culture, and sovereignty, while supporting a national movement toward justice, reconciliation, and Indigenous-led solutions.
OUR VISION
A future where First Nations in Epekwitk (Prince Edward Island) and Indigenous peoples across Canada thrive in self-determining, sovereign communities, guided by our inherent rights, cultural values, and a strong voice at all levels of decision-making.
OUR MISSION
To advocate for and advance the rights, priorities, and self-determination of PEI First Nations while contributing to national efforts that support Indigenous peoples across Canada. Through strong leadership, strategic partnerships, and policy development, we work to create lasting, positive change for our communities, ensuring their voices are heard and respected.
OUR MANDATE
The PEI Office of the Regional Chief is committed to:
- Representing the interests of PEI First Nations at the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and in national discussions affecting Indigenous peoples.
- Advocating for policies and programs that support Indigenous self-determination, governance, land rights, climate action, justice, and reconciliation.
- Strengthening relationships between Indigenous communities, governments, and organizations to drive meaningful progress.
- Supporting initiatives that uplift Indigenous culture, language, and traditions while addressing systemic challenges.
- Working alongside First Nations leadership, Elders, youth, and community members to ensure Indigenous-led solutions shape our collective future.
Our Beginnings
The PEI Office of the Regional Chief was created following a resolution (#72/2019) to the Assembly of First Nations, which was passed on July 25, 2019. It directed the AFN to work with the Chiefs of Prince Edward Island to amend the Charter, so the composition of the Executive Committee would allow for a PEI Regional Chief.
Before this resolution, the PEI Bands were represented by the New Brunswick Regional Chief at AFN. Over time, it became clear that the issues and interests of First Nations in Epekwitk were often unique and distinct from those facing New Brunswick communities. Our Island community needed its voice heard at the national level.
After the resolution was passed, the Charter was amended to include a place at the table for a PEI Regional Chief. In 2022, the PEI Office of the Regional Chief was incorporated, and the following year, Roseanne Sark was hired to set up the non-profit organization. In the spring of 2024, our first Regional Chief, Wendell Labobe, was hired. The establishment of the PEI ORC would not have been possible without the driving initiative and dedication of Chief Darlene Bernard (Lennox Island) and Chief Roderick Gould (Abegweit). Together, they set the wheels in motion by bringing the resolution to the AFN and have worked tirelessly to get our office up and running. From 2022 until 2024, they also served as Co-Interim Regional Chiefs for the Office. Today they remain deeply engaged with our Office, working in partnership with our Regional Chief to advocate on behalf of our Island’s First Nations.
Our People
Regional Chief Wendell Labobe
Regional Chief Wendell LaBobe, a proud member of the Lennox Island First Nation, is a passionate advocate for First Nations’ rights, self-determination, and community-led progress. With nearly 20 years of experience in Indigenous communities and organizations, he brings a powerful voice and proven leadership to his historic role as the first-ever Regional Chief for Prince Edward Island within the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), appointed in spring 2024.
Elected to the Lennox Island First Nation Council in 2019 and re-elected in 2022, Regional Chief LaBobe has driven impactful advancements in economic development, governance, and community growth. His efforts have strengthened partnerships that uphold Indigenous rights and sovereignty, amplifying PEI First Nations’ presence on the national stage.
A graduate of Holland College with a background in business management and a Certified Aboriginal Professional Administrator (CAPA) designation from AFOA Canada, Regional Chief LaBobe blends strategic expertise with a deep commitment to Mi’kmaq values. He champions policies addressing land rights, climate action, and justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People (MMIWG2S+).
Dedicated to ensuring PEI First Nations’ voices resonate provincially and nationally, Regional Chief LaBobe leads with a vision of thriving Indigenous communities rooted in self-determination, cultural resilience, and collaboration.
“As the Regional Chief, I am committed to standing with our communities, supporting our leaders, listening to our people, and helping to build a strong future that reflects who we are as Mi’kmaq people. Together, we carry forward the strength and teachings of our ancestors and ensure the path is clear for the next generations.” RC LABOBE
Roseanne Sark
Director of Operations and Executive Assistant
Roseanne Sark brings over two decades of experience in health policy, program development, and community service to her role as Director of Operations and Executive Assistant to her role with the PEI ORC. Since becoming the Office’s first staff member in 2023, Roseanne has played an integral role in providing operational leadership, overseeing policy and governance coordination, and organizational planning to support the Regional Chief’s vision. She’s also responsible for coordinating the Office’s AFN committee appointees and preparing for the AFN national assemblies to ensure PEI has a voice at key governance discussions.
Previously, Roseanne served as Director of Health at the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI. In this integral role, she championed community-driven health initiatives and advocated for PEI’s First Nations. She also loved sharing her passion for the Living Medicine Wheel, a facilitation exercise she conducted under the health program. It proved so popular that Roseanne began empowering others to facilitate this exercise in their own communities.
Certified as a First Nation Health Manager (FNHMA) in 2014, Roseanne also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology from Carleton University (2002) and certifications in Reality Therapy (1995) and Conflict Resolution (2006).
A proud member of the Lennox Island First Nation, Roseanne’s commitment to her community is deeply rooted in love, respect, and a lifelong dedication to service. She currently resides in Summerside and cherishes time spent with her two grandchildren.
Lennox Island First Nation
Lennox Island First Nation is the first and largest Mi’kmaq Band on Epektwik. Today, approximately 450 of the Band’s 1056 members live on the Lennox Island reserve, also known as L’nui Mnikuk. The 540-hectare island is located in northwestern PEI and connected to the main island by a short causeway and bridge, and overlooks Malpeque Bay.
This special place has always held deep spiritual and cultural significance to the Mi’kmaq people. For thousands of years, they have respected and cherished the lands and waters of L’nui Mnikuk. In turn, the fields, forests, and seas deeply shaped the Mi’kmaq way of life and their traditions. Fishing was an integral part of Mi’kmaq life for millennia and continues to be an important part of the local economy to this day.
Today, Lennox Island is a thriving community hub with its own health centre, several active businesses, a cultural centre, an elementary school, a community garden, and more. Fishing has been an integral part of Mi’kmaq life for millennia and continues to be an important part of the local economy to this day.
Abegweit First Nation
Abegweit First Nation is a proud Mi’kmaq Band that traces its roots to Epekwitk, dating back 10,000 years according to oral tradition and archaeological evidence.
The official creation of the Abegweit First Nation occurred on March 7th, 1972 as a means of better serving Mi’kmaq communities in Eastern PEI. It comprises the Morell, Rocky Point, and Scotchfort reserves.
The Scotchfort reserve is located approximately twenty minutes northeast of Charlottetown along Route 2. The largest of the three reserves, it is the commercial and community hub of the Abegweit Band. A short drive further east, the Morell reserve is composed of 200 acres of forested land as well as a few residential homes along the highway. The Rocky Point reserve is about a thirty-minute drive southwest of Charlottetown.
While the Abegweit First Nation Band includes a relatively small number of members, its population has grown rapidly over the past ten years at a rate of approximately forty percent. As it sets its sights on supporting its growing and youthful population, Abegweit First Nation has embarked on a number of infrastructure projects at all three of its reserves.
