Election brings Sask. Mtis Nation closer to restoring federal funding, says leadership

Restoring federal funding and living up to voter expectations of transparencywill be priorities for the new Mtis-Nation Saskatchewan executive, according to the newly-elected leadership.

Unofficial results from Saturday's election showGlen McCallum is the new president-elect, having beaten out runner-up Karen Anne LaRocque by just over 100 votes.

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The unofficial results show more than 5,000 ballots were cast to elect four executive positions and 12 regional representatives.

McCallum, who is based in Pinehouse Lake, Sask., said his first step would be to meet with the newly-elected representatives.

"A president has to work with his government in order for things to move smoothly forward and have a listening ear in planning together in regards to where we go," said McCallum.

"We have a whole province we have to look after, where our Mtis people live."

McCallumsaid urban governance, women and youth, elders' participation, land hunting, fishing and gathering rights would be priorities during his term as president.

Achievementsand challenges

He also acknowledged there would be challenges in his new role.

'When we were elected in 2012, many of uswerent aware that we had a number of growing challenges within our government, and I think we've arrested and neutralized the situation in terms of the people that were responsible for that.-Mtis Nation-Saskatchewan vice-president Gerald Morin

In November, 2014, funding for the Mtis Nation-Saskatchewan was halted by the federal government.

The organization had failed to honour agreements that mandated there be at least two Mtis Nation-Saskatchewan legislative assemblies per year.

The executivesays that funding has since been partially restored.

McCallum said the executive was now focused on accountability and transparency, adding that he is excited about what it can achieve.

"In the meantime we are still struggling but ... with this new government and the election that's happened, I believe that the road will be a little more smoother with the federal and provincial governments to be able to work with us," he said.

Outgoing presidentRobertDoucettedid not run in theelection.

Federal funding should be restored soon, says VP

Vice-president Gerald Morin was re-elected by a margin of 277 in Saturday's election, according to the unofficial results.

It is his understanding that the completion of the Saturday election, the first since 2012, fulfilled the federal government's requirements to fully restore the Mtisfunding.

The other requirement was to hold a legislative assembly, which wasmet in February, he said.

"Now, one of the first priorities is to move forward with the federal government officials and have federal funding fully restored and start dealing with some of the other substantive issues that we have to deal with," said Morin.

Morin said he too was excited about what the councilcould achieve on behalf of its people, particularly after the signing of the Canada-Mtis Nation Accord.

The long-awaited accord is seen as the foundation for a nation-to-nation relationship with the Canadian government.

He said there was also talk of pushing for constitutional reform.

'The most open and democratic election we've ever had'

Although Morin described the recent election as the "most open and democratic election we've ever had in the history of our nation", he acknowledged there was more work to be done to meet voters' expectations of transparency.

"When we were elected in 2012, many of us weren't aware that we had a number of growing challenges within our government, and I think we've arrested and neutralized the situation in terms of the people that were responsible for that," said Morin.

"Those issues are not over. There's ongoing efforts to find out exactly where all the money was spent to ensure complete accountability and transparency to our legislative assembly."

A date has not been set for the swearing in of thenew executive and representatives.

'We want change'

DonLaFontainewas one of the many who stood in line inside Saskatoon's Confederation Mall to cast a ballot Saturday afternoon.

"It's been way too long with the same old people that werethere," he said on Saturday."We want change. You cantell, the lineups. A lot of people want change."

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"It seems like it's always been stalled. Everything's been delay, delay, delay. Now we're finally getting a chance to get in here and vote," LaFontaine said.

Speaking on Saturday before the election result, voter Matthew Henry said he also believedit wastime for the current leadership to go.He said themain issues on his mind were getting fair rights and a fair share of funding.

Executive results (unofficial)

• President: Glen HectorMcCallum, 1015 votes
• Vice-president: Gerald Morin, 1359 votes
• Secretary:Ashley Norton, 1832 votes
• Treasurer: Mary Ann Morin, 2479

Eastern representatives (unofficial)

• Region 1: Ryan Lee Carriere, acclaimed
• Region 2: Sherry Soll, 47 votes
• Region 2A: Derek Porky Langan, 115 votes
• Region 3: Marg Friesen, 116 votes

Western representatives (unofficial)

• Region 1: Loretta Maria King, 205 votes
• Region 1A: Billy Dean Kennedy, 171 votes
• Region 2: Sherry Ann McLennan, 624 votes
• Region 2A: Rebecca Major, 454 votes
• Region 3: Wendy S. Gervais, 201 votes

Northern representatives (unofficial)

• Region 1: Earl Cook, acclaimed
• Region 2: Leonard John Montgrand, 262 votes
• Region 3: MervinTex Leonard Bouvier, 359 votes