FSIN Candidates Bring Platforms To PAGC Assembly
Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 12:25
A steady diet of campaigning is underway in Prince Albert today, as the second day of the PAGC fall assembly continues.
All of the candidates running for chief’s positions at the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations took the stage today.
Glen Pratt of the Gordon’s First Nation is seeking to hold onto his position as third vice-chief, against challenger Dutch Lerat of Cowessess.
Lerat says he is running on his record of capacity building and strong business know-how.
He acknowledges the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority scandal in 2000, which saw him leave his old post as vice-chief under a cloud of controversy.
However, Lerat says he says he’s still proud of his work at SIGA.
Meantime, Pratt says he wants to see the federation work in a more unified way.
He says there is too much politics at the FSIN, and he asked how many delegates were actually involved in the governance building process.
Two people are running for the office of first vice-chief.
Robin McLeod of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band says he hopes to bolster First Nations’ involvement in education.
He says schools are being forced to run off a government agenda.
Incumbent first vice-chief Morley Watson says more needs to be done to keep First Nations kids out of places like the Paul Dojack Centre.
It recently came to light several kids at the outreach facility were subject to abuse while housed there.
Watson says scenarios like this have to stop.
All four of the candidates for chief are also present at today’s assembly, and are working hard to get out their message before tomorrow’s vote.