FORT FOLLY FIRST NATION - Key Persons
Although Chief Knockwood likes to teach, he also likes to learn - a challenge that he welcomed all his life. Appreciating the power of new technology, he is interested in computers. He wants his Band Council to be up-to-date with this fast moving technology.
Chief Knockwood of Fort Folly First Nation in New Brunswick has only been in office since 1997 to 2003, then again from 2005 to 2013. However, his life experiences has more than adequately prepared him for such an undertaking.
Chief Knockwood's varying work experience followed both traditional and non-traditional activities. Like most young Mi'kmaq boys of his generation, he spent time with his father who taught him how to hunt and fish. In his young adult life, he worked in factories and traveled extensively, living in Germany, the United States and other parts of Canada. He joined the American Forces where he had the opportunity to complete his high school education. When he returned to New Brunswick, Chief Knockwood attended a professional school in Moncton and learned to be a barber. He set up a barber shop and did quite well.
At the end of the 1960s Chief Knockwood became interested in politics. Later, a member of the Union of New Brunswick Indians was looking for a Native person to do historical land claim research and asked Chief Knockwood if he would accept the task. At the time, land claims within the federal government did not exist. Soon Chief Knockwood became fascinated by the power of history which was the beginning of his 27-year career in Native history.
From his practical experience, Chief Knockwood noticed that in order to succeed with a historical investigation or any political issue, the most important skills are patience and awareness. When encountering bad will, he does not show frustration. Instead he looks elsewhere. Even if the system is slow to reply, it can also be friendly if we can find someone inside who has the ability to understand the situation, said Chief Knockwood.