Kettle and Stony Point First Nation Chief Jason Henry will have his name on the federal ballot in September.
He was acclaimed as the NDP candidate for the Lambton-Kent Middlesex riding on Sunday.
Henry, who has served as chief since 2018, is taking a leave of absence from his role as head of band council.
"This isn't an abandonment of the work or change in direction, the mandate for me has been very clear in why I began putting my life out there working on public service and working to bring change," said Henry. "That's what it is that I'm dedicated to doing and what I plan on doing, bringing change for our community, for our people, for our riding and to be a voice."
Senior councillor Liz Cloud will be standing in as acting chief during the election.
Henry said he is looking forward to taking the community's message to a national stage.
"Looking at bringing great change to this place we call Canada and working on very important things for all of us, healthcare and housing and tackling the drug and alcohol problem at a different level. In particular, standing up for those ones that we're finding each and every day, and trying to bring real transformative change to this country by being the voice of our riding and the voice of Anishinaabe people."
Henry will be up against Conservative incumbent Lianne Rood, Liberal candidate Dr. Sudit Ranade, the Green Party's Jeremy Hull and People's Party of Canada candidate Kevin Mitchell.
Justin Trudeau met with Governor General Mary Simon on Sunday. The prime minister's request to dissolve parliament was approved, triggering a vote on September 20.