A well-known Manitoulin Island woman will be leading a national indigenous business organization. Regional Indigenous economic development leader Dawn Madahbee Leach is the new chair of the National Indigenous Economic Development Board. Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller announced her appointment for a five-year term at the end of April. She was the first Indigenous woman in Canada to lead a regional financial lending institution as general manager of the Waubetek Business Development Corporation based out of Birch Island since 1988. A member of the Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation on Manitoulin, she replaces Clarence Louie of B.C. who stepped down after a 14-year stint leading the board.