Monday’s federal election was the hot topic of discussion at the Prince Albert Grand Council annual assembly.
The Liberals were re-elected to a minority government but all 14 seats in Saskatchewan went Conservative blue.
Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Vice-Chief David Pratt said Parliament is certainly more unstable than before but hopes the government and NDP will work together on an issue by issue basis.
“You know, I think as long as the NDP’s there and they hold the Liberal government accountable, and I believe that they will, it will be okay,” he said. “But I mean on a motion of confidence, if the government falls, we could see ourselves in another election.”
Pratt said the FSIN will continue to hold the new government to account on a number of files including traditional languages funding and the recent Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruling on Indigenous child welfare.
PAGC Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte said the defeat of long-serving Regina Liberal MP Ralph Goodale, Saskatchewan’s lone voice around the cabinet table, is a big loss for both the province and First Nations.
“It’s disappointing, he was a cabinet minister and also held the public safety portfolio and I know we worked with Ralph on a lot of policing issues in our member First Nations,” he said.
New Democrats Georgina Jolibois in Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River and Sheri Benson in Saskatoon West also lost their seats.
Because there is no FSIN assembly this fall, the PAGC assembly was reduced from two days to one this year.
In the morning, Charles Whitecap was sworn in as a senator and the afternoon saw review of audited financial statements.
Vice-Chief Christopher Jobb was also up for re-election this year but was acclaimed.
A PAGC Facebook post said he was the only qualified candidate.
The assembly took place at the Senator Allen Bird Memorial Centre in Prince Albert.
(PHOTO: Charles Whitecap, center, is sworn in as a senator at the Prince Albert Grand Council Annual assembly. Photo by Fraser Needham.)