Cameron and Bear with convincing wins at FSIN election
- EFN Staff | October 30, 2014
Heather Bear has just become only the second woman in forty years to join the executive of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations. Bear, from Ochapowace First Nation, was running for the Fourth Vice Chief position against Robin McLeod and she came out on top 568 votes to McLeod’s 293. She joins recent political pioneer First Vice Chief Kim Jonathan on the executive.
Incumbent Bobby Cameron was re-elected Second Vice Chief in a decisive 780-89 vote margin against Jeremy Fourhorns. Cameron is from Witchekan Lake First Nation.
“I extend my congratulations to the two Vice Chiefs who were successful in their bid to take on the responsibilities of the Vice Chief positions,” FSIN Chief Perry Bellegarde said. “And I thank all four candidates who put their names forward to serve the interests of First Nations people in Saskatchewan.”
This Chiefs Assembly was all about the election with many pressing agenda items moved to the February Assembly scheduled to be discussed in Lloydminster. Topics for February will include the gaming agreement and a possible casino in Lloydminster as well as a reorganization of the Federation depending on budgets and funding opportunities.
During the Assembly, three Senators were sworn in. Appointed by Prince Albert Grand Council were Harry Cook of Lac La Ronge Indian Band and Earl Ermine of Sturgeon Lake First Nation; and appointed by Saskatoon Tribal Council was Patrick Johnstone from Mistawasis First Nation.
On Wednesday, the first day of the Assembly, the Chiefs-in-Assembly received an update report on FSIN operational plans, to be discussed further in February 2015, and ratified the financial statements for FSIN and its institutions for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014.
During his Wednesday address, Chief Bellegarde recapped the major changes that have taken place since the FSIN Legislative Assembly in May. “The Tsilhqot’in Supreme Court decision created additional opportunities for First Nations in Canada when it recognized Aboriginal title in the Williams case. But to be successful, perseverance will be required, given the unnecessarily adversarial stance that has been adopted by the federal government. That adversarial stance was evident when the Government of Canada contradicted its own previous endorsement of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in September 2014. Finally, there is growing momentum toward holding a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. It is of the utmost importance to keep moving ahead on a national inquiry and an action plan.”