Linden Spencer was elected Deputy Grand Chief of the Cree Nation Government in the run-off election on August 1, overcoming John Henry Wapachee with 65% of votes. The 25-year-old former Youth Chief of Eastmain said he represents “a generation that’s ready to lead, not some day but now.”
Spencer received more votes in every community except Nemaska, Waskaganish and Washaw Sibi. He had emerged as the clear front-runner in the initial election on July 17 with nearly 48% of votes but didn’t secure an absolute majority. Candidates Robin Gull-Saganash and Sammy Salt-Blacksmith did not advance to the run-off vote.
As Deputy Grand Chief, Spencer joins newly elected Grand Chief Paul John Murdoch at the helm of the Cree Nation for the next four years. While he becomes the youngest ever to attain the position, supporters noted the young age of past leaders like Billy Diamond and Matthew Coon Come.
“Young people showed that their voices matter,” Spencer told the Nation. “They’re ready to be part of shaping our Cree Nation’s future. That’s something I’ll carry with me in this role, making sure our youth have a seat at the table because their ideas and energy are exactly what we need now to move forward.”
A former Junior A hockey player who played three seasons with the Timmins Rock, Spencer returned home after his mother passed away in 2019 and opened two businesses. He credits his father in helping develop his leadership capabilities, along with managing every project with Eastmain Excavation.
To avoid potential conflicts of interest, Spencer is currently working with lawyers to remove himself from overseeing his companies. His business experience and conversations throughout Eeyou Istchee revealed an insufficient support system for Cree entrepreneurs.
“Every entrepreneur has faced limited access for contracts, funding, long waits for permits,” explained Spencer. “We see outside companies that take all our contracts and don’t reinvest locally. Our entrepreneurs have the skill and ideas but they need a fair shot in a system that works with them, not against them.”
Spencer said he’d push for transparent procurement processes that prioritize Cree businesses, mandatory community benefit agreements for external companies and stronger investment in local capacity, training and equipment. Asserting that local development corporations have only added to the competition, he wants them to better support community members.
Politics was an unexpected development for Spencer. It was a surprise when he was nominated for Youth Chief of his community two years ago, and he waited until five minutes before the deadline before deciding to run.
“I was still learning and sometimes unsure of myself,” Spencer admitted. “I learned that leadership is not about having all the answers. It’s about showing up, listening and doing the work, even when it’s hard. That experience shaped how I lead today.”
The Eastmain Youth Council described Spencer as a dedicated leader who could always be relied upon for guidance, friendship and support. They said his “passion, vision and heart will continue to inspire us all.”
Spencer hopes his success will create opportunities for other youth to step forward. His experience with the Youth Council taught him how to handle pressure, bring people together and persevere through challenges.
“The smallest ideas can turn into something,” suggested Spencer. “When you give people the tools and trust, they’ll make things happen. There were times we didn’t have the resources but we made it work by adapting and finding solutions.”
Cree youth face challenges with mental health, violence, addiction and disconnection. Spencer said they’re feeling unheard, unsupported and unsure where they belong. He asserted that youth deserve more than encouragement and being told to wait their turn – they deserve the opportunity to lead.
On the campaign trail throughout Eeyou Istchee, community safety and the housing crisis were frequent concerns. Some families are moving house to house or sleeping in teepees because there’s nowhere else to go. Spencer said there’s an urgent need to build more homes, free up land for residential development and establish shelters in every community that provide dignity, stability and space to grow.
“We need to address today’s challenges while planning long-term so our children and grandchildren inherit a stronger and more united Eeyou Istchee,” said Spencer. “Elders have taught me leadership is about listening. They remind us that every decision we make today will affect the next seven generations.”
Along with greater access to healthcare resources and community-based wellness programs, he believes in strengthening traditional land-based programs that heal people from the inside out.
“In every Cree community, I heard the same values that unite us,” Spencer said. “The care for our land, respect for each other and the importance of passing our language and culture on to our young people. Always remember where you come from and it will guide you in where you want to go.”
With a fiancée and the oldest of his three children starting school this fall, Spencer plans to balance family life in Eastmain around a busy schedule. He wants to work closely with the Grand Chief, with whom he said he connects very well, and be transparent with the members of the Cree Nation.
“I am grateful for every handshake, every story and every piece of advice or wisdom shared with me,” said Spencer. “I carry your hopes and concerns with me every day. Let’s keep walking side by side, building something stronger for the next generation.”