Cindy Woodhouse brings bridge-building experience to the national chief’s office at the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), one campaign insider says, but she also brings political baggage others see as a potential liability.
That baggage includes her past support for the federal Liberal party and her participation in the toppling of her predecessor, RoseAnne Archibald, while serving as AFN Manitoba regional chief, one campaign organizer says.
“There was a lot of chatter among the chiefs that she’s a liability because she’s a Liberal,” said Cara Currie Hall, a campaign manager and strategist for third-place candidate Sheila North.
In 2014, Woodhouse was Manitoba president of
