First Nation leadership have an ever-expanding role

Next week Canadians will know who will lead the country for the next four years.

In addition to federal provincial and municipal elections, First Nations throughout Canada also choose their chief and council.

Arguably it may be the most important political decision for a First Nation because globalization is making the world a much smaller place and international issues like trade wars and conflicts can impact everyday life even on reserves.

Once again, the people of Star Blanket Cree Nation have chosen Michael G. Starr as their okimaw or chief.

It’s a role he doesn’t take lightly.

“I feel humbled,” he said shortly after he was officially sworn in.

Starr said he places his trust completely in the hands of the people because he works for them. Although campaigning is a necessary part of the election process, he said meeting with as many members as possible gives him an opportunity to connect one-on-one and have those meaningful conversations.

“I’m grateful for their insight about how our nation should grow and do things together,” said Starr. “It’s our Nehiyaw way, our Cree way.”

On Match 31^st. the Star Blanket Cree Nation held its election and April 1^st he and incumbents Matt Nokusis and Catherine Stonechild were re-elected. Lawrence Starr and Michael D. Starr were also newly elected to council.

Starr entered politics in 1994 not knowing where it would take him.

He served five consecutive terms on council until tragedy struck the community.

In 2009, Star Blanket’s long-time leader Chief Irvin Starblanket passed away suddenly.

“He was a very nation minded chief and was very well respected,” said Starr. “He was a Treaty-oriented chief…He provided a lot of guidance in terms of keeping the Treaty perspective and I have never forgotten that.”

The Regina Leader Post article quoted the old chief’s final words as, “Take care of the people.”

Starr took those words to heart and put his name forward for chief in 2009.

This year marks his sixth consecutive term as okimaw the Cree word for chief.

A lot has changed in the world since he began his political career three decades ago.

In 1994, some Indian Residential Schools were still in operation including the one in Lebret, which became known as White Calf Collegiate. Globally, the North American Free Trade Agreement had just been signed, the world web was in its infancy, media platforms did not exist nor did Google.

Many First Nations like Star Blanket have business ventures and urban reserves.

In fact, the First Nations University of Canada’s Regina campus is located on atim kâ-mihkosit (Red Dog) Urban Reserve, which is a 32-acre parcel of land owned by Star Blanket. It is Canada’s first urban reserved created specifically for educational initiatives.

The recent trade war between Canada and the United States is a new development, but something Starr is monitoring because of the upcoming federal election and how it may impact things even for his community.

“We do stay within our own nation’s jurisdiction’s perspective, but we have to understand the external things that are out there,” he said. “The tariffs out there, we are mindful of that and how they will affect the things we may build and other things that may be impacted like groceries and things like that.”

Starr said once things are more stable between Canada and the United States, then plans can be made on what is needed for the community.

“On a capital-building perspective we want to concentrate and develop a multi-purpose building on our main community housing a lot of our youth programs out there,” he said.

Another area is developing its own-source revenue and working with its holding company.

“We are working hard at establishing businesses and looking at different business ventures,” said Starr. “We also have our specific claims, which are in the system. We are making sure that its something we are working towards.”

Catherine Stonechild who was re-elected for her fourth consecutive term is also looking forward to a lot of growth,

“We have our Pesākāstēw Solar farm and we are finally going to be receiving some dividends back from that in the third quarter,” she said. “There are good things going to happen for our nation.”

Stonechild is currently the only female on council.

“I’m glad our membership believes in what I bring to the table,” she said. “What I bring to the table is love, kindness, respect, compassion and all our values.  I don’t have a big degree like a lot of other people, but what I do have is life-long learning of hardship.”

For her, being re-elected was emotional because it meant the people once again placed their trust in her.

“(It’s) a symbol of our people trying to come together and work together and that’s what we need in our community,” said Stonechild. “In order for our community to work as one, we all need to come together.”

She feels blessed to be from Star Blanket.

“We have a lot of spirituality, a lot of things that happen in our community,” said Stonechild.

Like Starr, she also had a political mentor.

She said the late Lynda Bigknife was instrumental in helping to establish Red Dog Holdings, which is the business arm of Star Blanket.

“When I first got elected, she’s the one who helped me and told me what to expect,” said Stonechild. “She told me to always be truthful and to always do my best to help people.”

In keeping with election guidelines, the chief and council had an impromptu meeting immediately after the swearing-in ceremony that was held in the White Calf Community Hall located in Lebret.