In November 2001, in Ohsweken, Ontario, Roberta Jamieson was elected chief of the Six Nations, making her the first female to ever assume that position. She won 49% of the votes, which amounts to 890 out of a total of 1813 votes cast; the runner up, Cynthia Jamieson, had 534 votes.

Prior to getting elected, Roberta Jamieson served as co-chair of the president's committee on indigenous studies at McMaster University; she was a director of the Six Nations Polytechnic Institute; and member of the Order of Canada. Jamieson was also the first aboriginal woman to get a law degree in Canada.

The Six Nations of the Grand River has 21,000 members with nearly 10,000 eligible voters. This year's turn out of 1800 voters represents a 50% increase in voter participation. The new council includes five women.