This is a list of chiefs of Kashechewan First Nation, listing the chiefs and band councils that have governed the First Nation since it began having its own council separate from that of Fort Albany First Nation in 1977.
Under the Indian Act, band councils were elected once every two years. The 1995 election asked residents to vote on extending chiefs' term lengths to three years, a change which was adopted. Currently, and as early as August 2021, Kashechewan elects its chief and councillors following a custom election code. Elections are held every three years for one Chief, one Deputy Chief, and nine Councillors.
In 2007, the First Nation was placed under third-party management by the federal government, allowing an outside company, to control the First Nation's finances. Until 2014, the co-managing company was Crupi Consulting Group, who were replaced in spring 2014 with another company, Northern Logistics, which had previously co-managed the Nation in the 2003-2004 fiscal year. +Date of SelectionChiefCouncillorsNotesRefJune 21, 1977Willie Wesley George Wesley Sinclair Williams Bart Sutherland Norman Wesley Evadnay Friday Fred LazarusJune 15, 1979Silas Wesley Andrew Reuben William Wesley Sr. Sinclair Wynne Abraham Wynne Paul Wesley Danny KooseesJune 2, 1981 Leo Friday Daniel Wesley Sinclair Wynne Abraham Wynne George Wesley Fred LazarusDate of SelectionChiefHead councillorCouncillorsNotesRefJune 23, 1983Dan KooseesSinclair Wynne Alex Z. Wesley Bertie Wynne Paul P. Wesley Willie Stephen Sinclair Williams Bartholomew Sutherland Jonathon SolomonJune 22, 1985George Koosees Sinclair Wynne George Wesley Philip Stephen Simon P. Friday Sinclair Wesley John Matthew Wesley John Hughie Jonathon SolomonJune 24, 1986Leo FridayArchie Wesley Sinclair Wesley Simon P. Friday Jonathon Solomon Walter Williams Sinclair Williams Willie M. Friday David Friday Daniel WesleyJune 30, 1987William Wesley Sr. Sinclair Wynne Jonathon Solomon Walter Williams George Kooses Sr. Charlie Wynne Silas Wesley Willie Friday Jr. Bertie WynneWalter Williams resigned in May 1988 and was replaced by George Wesley in a May 19 by-election.August 8, 1988Leo Friday Alex Z. Wesley Philip Goodwin Leo Metatawabin George Wesley George Kooses Sr. Evadney Friday Philip Hughie Willie Friday Jr. James E. WesleyChief Friday resigned on December 23, 1988, Head Councillor Archie Wesley resigned on December 27, 1988, and Evadney Friday resigned on January 3, 1989. Those three were replaced in a January 4, 1989 by-election.January 4, 1989 (by-election)Jonathon SolomonJoshua Stephen Alex Z. Wesley Philip Goodwin Leo Metatawabin George Wesley George Kooses Sr. John M. Wesley Philip Hughie Willie Friday Jr. James E. WesleyAlex Z. Wesley and George Wesley resigned in January 1990, triggering another by-election on January 22. On the day of that by-election, Chief Solomon also resigned.January 22, 1990 (by-election)Silas Wesley Oliver Wesley Philip Goodwin Leo Metatawabin Sandy Lazarus George Kooses Sr. John M. Wesley Philip Hughie Willie Friday Jr. James E. WesleyJanuary 25, 1991Dan KooseesWilliam Sutherland Alex Z. Wesley Paul P. Wesley John Hughie Lawrence Goodwin Roy Wynne Jr. Sinclair Wynne George Wesley Alfred Lazarus Eliza MarkDate of SelectionChiefDeputy ChiefCouncillorsNotesRef1993Andrew ReubenJanuary 9, 1995Oliver WesleyGeorge HughieThis election included a question on the ballot about extending the Chief's term from two to three years. The results favoured a three-year term.Dan KooseesAccording to Mushkegowuk Council records, Koosees was chief in September 1999.Leo FridayTony WesleyAccording to Mushkegowuk Council records, Friday was chief as of August 30, 2000, September 2001, September 2002, and September 2003. He was also chief during the October 2005 water crisis. The Council's records also indicate that Tony Wesley was Deputy Chief in August 2000.2006Jonathan Solomon2009August 2012Derek StephenAugust 2015Leo Friday2018Hosea Wesley Michael Goodwin Wayne Lazarus Freddy Wesley John M. WesleyAugust 30, 2021Gaius WesleyBetsy Lazarus Freddy Wesley Sheperd Wynne Wayne Lazarus Abraham Wynne Michael Goodwin Henry Koosees John M. Wesley Lawrence Goodwin Sr. Raven FridayAugust 31, 2024Hosea WesleyWayne Lazarus References