Paul McCartney could be chief of indigenous Canadian island

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Paul McCartney could become CHIEF of indigenous Canadian island after being nominated to be the new leader just weeks before election
º  The island is a reservation on an island bordering Michigan and Canada
º  A 1968 loophole means that the Chief does not technically have to be part of the native community in order to be nominated
º  The Chief is the most respected position in Walpole Island First Nation, which has about 5,000 members
º  It's unclear why McCartney, along with Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds were nominated 
By REBECCA DAVISON 
FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 11 August 2020

Sir Paul McCartney could become the next chief of an indigenous Canadian island after he was nominated as Chief for Walpole Island First Nation.

The island is a reservation on an island bordering Michigan and Canada... according to the indigenous community's director of operations, James Jenkins.

He told TMZ that the Beatles star, 78, along with Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds, 43, have been nominated by two eligible electors over the weekend, making them official nominees.

Chief Macca? Paul McCartney could become chief of indigenous Canadian island after being nominated to be the new leader just weeks before their election (pictured in 2018) 


Stunning view: The island is a reservation on an island bordering Michigan and Canada ... according to the indigenous community's director of operations, James Jenkins

The site reports that a 1968 loophole means that the Chief does not technically have to be part of the native community in order to be nominated.

It's unclear why Paul and Ryan were selected but unless they contact the Walpole Island office by Thursday to remove their names, they will remain legit candidates for Chief when the election takes place on September 19. 

And whoever wins, will be contacted by the First Nation and the candidate would either have to take up office or officially resign. 

TMZ also report: 'The Chief is similar to a mayor - they are the head of the council and the voice of the community, tasked with overseeing programs and services run by administrators. 

Wow! The star, 78, along with Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds, 43, have been nominated by two eligible electors over the weekend, making them official nominees (pictured in 2019)

'Chief is the most respected position in Walpole Island First Nation, which has about 5,000 members.'

But if either Paul or Ryan wanted to take up the position, they would be required to move closer to the reservation. 

MailOnline has contacted a spokesperson for both Paul McCartney and Ryan Reynolds for comment. 

Looking back: The news comes after Paul revealed he found it 'pretty hurtful' when he was blamed for breaking up The Beatles when the group parted ways in 1970 (pictured in 1963)

The latest news comes a week after McCartney revealed he found it 'pretty hurtful' when he was blamed for breaking up The Beatles when the group parted ways in 1970.

Reflecting on the misconceptions he faced during his time with the band, the singer, spoke candidly with British GQ on Tuesday about how he felt at the time.

Saying people believed the band - which also consisted of John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr - 'hated each other' after their split, Sir Paul clarified that the group simply had 'disputes' like any other family would. 

Of common misconceptions, he said: 'I suppose that when The Beatles broke up, perhaps there was a misconception that we all sort of hated each other. 

'What I realise now is that, because it was a family, because it was a gang, families argue. And families have disputes. And some people want to do this and some people want to do that. 

'So I think what came about after that … the only way for me to save The Beatles and Apple - and to release Get Back by Peter Jackson and which allowed us to release Anthology and all these great remasters of all the great Beatles records - was to sue the band. 

'If I hadn’t done that, it would have all belonged to Allen Klein. The only way I was given to get us out of that was to do what I did.'

Struggle: Of John's song, Paul said: 'You see the atmosphere of "Let’s get Paul. Let’s nail him in a song..." And those things were pretty hurtful' (pictured in 1967)


Walpole Island Governance Building. August, 2020 
Photo courtesy of James Jenkins.