Staff Profiles
Robert Houle
Regional Manager: Ontario
email Robert 
Robert Houle is a member of Mississaugi First Nation, Northeastern Ontario, raised in Southern Ontario. He was fostered and eventually adopted into the Houle family at the age of 7 years old. Robert found himself always having to step up his abilities in order to assert and follow through in his beliefs as a free spirit. As a young man, he found the structure to form decisions and accept criticism through his athletics. With the ‘FBI’ status given to him throughout his football career, he was able to channel all of his energy, both positive and negative onto the football field. For him, this was a true introduction to effective team building, a lesson that he carries with him to this day. His formal education includes Sir Sandford Fleming in Peterborough, Ontario, where he met his wife and best friend Mary Ann, an Anishinaabe Kwe from the Wauzhushk Onigum Nation. Robert finished his academic studies at Lake Head University in Thunder Bay, ON. He and Mary Ann then had 3 children: Robyn, Lexi, and Ricky, all of which are very active in sports. Robert enjoys spending time at the hockey rinks throughout the winter months, and is a supporter of Lake of The Woods Girls Hockey League. He also coaches soccer throughout the summer months. Robert’s oldest girl made Team Ontario’s girls fast ball team this past summer and traveled to Denver Colorado to NAIG (National Aboriginal Indigenous Games) and brought home a bronze medal. Professionally, Mr. Houle, took on a responsibility of advocating on behalf of First Nation’s housing. After establishing common ground amongst leadership, in that housing on First nations was not acceptable (status quo), this lead to the creation of a National Pilot Project in housing. It was during this time that Robert realized that as long as you have a clear understanding of what is possible, anything can be achieved. This was the introduction of market driven housing on reserve, allowing First Nations to build personal equity. Mr. Houle has served on numerous working groups of the Assembly of First Nations. He has also held court with a number of Cabinet, ADM’s, and senior government officials. Robert has had, and continues to have, the pleasure of working with National movers and shakers to continue to shift national policy. His spiritual guidance and connection to his path are attributed to a number of close confidants: this guidance helps in his daily decision making. Robert is connected to Mississaugi and has continued to stay in touch with his siblings. Come fall, you would be hard pressed to locate him as he is out on the land with his older brother and father in-law exercising his treaty rights. He has always challenged policies affecting Anishinaabe and has never accepted the status quo as an answer. Until all avenues are exhausted, there is no final answer.
