Chief Tammy Cook-Searson Announces Retirement

The Chief of Saskatchewan’s largest First Nation has announced her retirement.

Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) Chief Tammy Cook-Searson issued a statement on December 23, announcing her intentions not to seek re-election in March 2026.

“After reflection and conversations with my family, I have decided not to seek re-election for Chief in March 2026,” reads the statement.

“As difficult as it is to announce that I will not seek another term, the time has come for me to to focus on being a wife, mother, and kohkum. I will continue to work hard until the end of my term, which concludes the day before nominations.”

Cook-Searson has served LLRIB for more than 28 years – over 20 years as Chief and eight years as a Band Councillor. She became the first female Chief in LLRIB history.

LLRIB has more than 12,700 members on and off reserve, including six LLRIB communities: Grandmother’s Bay, Stanley Mission, Sucker River, La Ronge, Hall Lake, and Little Red River.

Cook-Searson said serving these communities has been the greatest honour of her life.

“Working together, we have faced many challenges as a First Nation, including a global pandemic, forest fires, evacuations, mental health crisis, and many other challenges. Together, we have persevered and emerged stronger,” said Cook-Searson in a statement.

In the statement, Cook-Searson reflected on some of the growth under her leadership, including LLRIB’s business arm, Kitsaski Management Limited Partnership, which has a total workforce of about 2,900 employees.

She also highlighted securing one of the largest Treaty and inherent rights claims in Canada, the Agricultural Benefits Claim, as well as the Woodland Wellness Centre, which utilizes both Cree and Western approaches to therapy and recovery.

“We have built schools, bridges, established indoor hockey rinks, youth centres, and created valuable partnerships with our neighbours. We have fought for clean drinking water in all our communities to ensure everyone has access to proper water and sewer infrastructure,” read the statement.

“We continue to improve structural fire protection and wildland firefighting equipment, gear, and training. We are actively working on new houses and renovating existing housing, infrastructure, and enhancing local services.”

Cook-Searson is active on several Indigenous governance boards, and serves as a Canadian Ranger for search and rescue missions.

She has been the recipient of several awards and recognitions, including the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business Women in Leadership Award in 2021; Canadian Armed Forces Special Services Medal in 2020; Queen Elizabeth /Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012; and an honorary degree and diploma from the University of Regina and the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology, respectively.

“Kinunaskomitinawaw, and thank you for your trust and for the opportunity to serve Lac La Ronge Indian Band Membership,” Cook-Searson said in closing.