With the distinction of being the longest-serving female chief in Manitoba, Betsy Kennedy became chief of the War Lake First Nation in 2006 and since that time, the community has seen the development of a nursing station, a new store, garage, water treatment plant, youth centre and a community fish facility. As chief, she was instrumental in securing approval for the Keeyask Development Agreement, which ensures the benefits of Keeyask, such as job training and employment, are realized by her community. In 2014, Chief Kennedy addressed the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women about how women and children living in First Nation communities can be better served by the federal government.
