Chief Mi’sel Joe was born in Miawpukek Mi’kamawey Mawi’omi First Nation, NL into a strong Mi'kmaq family who educated him in all the Mi’kmaq ways and traditions. Both his grandfather and uncle have held the office of hereditary Saqamaw. After a time away, Chief Mi’sel Joe returned to Miawpukek in 1974. Since then, he has been involved in community leadership and served as Administrative Chief for over three decades. In this role, he has been instrumental in transforming NL’s understanding of Indigenous Leadership and guided Conne River to becoming a successful and thriving community.

Since his retirement in 2024, he serves as Traditional Saqamaw with a commitment to preserving the language, culture and traditions of his people. In May 2004, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, by Memorial University for his contribution to the economic, social and political development of the Mi'kmaq people of NL.

Other awards include the Order of Canada (2018), the Frank McKenna Award for Outstanding Contributions to Public Policy by Atlantic Canadians (2024), Turning the Tide Industry Lifetime Achievement Award for Exemplary Leadership (2024) and the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador (2024).

Chief Joe has been an incredible mentor and guide for RFNL since 2018 when he graciously and generously led a small group of academics as together they planned the innovative and transformative Two-Eared Listening Gathering . Since then, he has supported the work of RFNL as an opportunity to deepen NL’s understanding of justice. Repeatedly, he is showing us that to understand restorative justice we must first hear the stories of injustice.

This directive has challenged us all to recognize more fully what it means to honour all people and the creation as worthy and interconnected. With Chief Joe’s guidance we are learning what it is to be an organization committed to decolonizing its thinking and practice.