Doucette claims strong mandate with decisive victory

Robert Doucette has been returned in impressive fashion for a second term to lead the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan.

“Métis people want to see a leader who’s going to be positive and also they want a leader who’s going to be proactive and actually deal with a lot of the issues that are facing the people,” Doucette said. He took over leadership of the MN-S in 2007. “Métis people also see that we’ve got a great relationship with both levels of government and want that to continue to build. I think that’s what they saw and they re-elected that.”

Doucette garnered 1,015 votes in the Sept. 8 election. His nearest competitor was Mavis Taylor with 548 votes. Other contenders for the position of president were Maureen Belanger (468), Raymond Laliberte (451), Wayne McKenzie (355) and Bryan Lee (68).

Doucette says  he has been given a strong mandate to continue to tackle the “bannock and lard“ issues that face the Métis in Saskatchewan, including health, housing, employment, and education.

“And of course we didn’t forget about the Metis rights in all of this,” he said.

Doucette points to one of the more recent issues on the table: the divestiture of one million acres of federal land in southern and central Saskatchewan that contains old Métis settlements, cemeteries and Red River cart trails. The land is presently being farmed by Métis.

“One of those things we’re saying now is the whole divestiture of those lands is a duty to consult with respect to Métis people and (the federal government) should share some of that land to create a southern and central Métis land base.”

Doucette says he is looking forward to working with both the incumbents and newly elected members and plans to build on the consensus that was reached at the end of his first term and which led to a date being agreed upon for the newly concluded election.

“I think when you put yourself out to be a leader you’ve got one thing in mind and that’s to work for the best interests for the people you represent. I expect nothing less than that from the new group of leaders that are going to move to form the new Métis government of Saskatchewan,” he said.

Approximately 3,200 Métis members cast ballots, which is less than took part in the previous election.

“What that says to me is that we have to roll up our sleeves, get into our communities and work even harder,” said Doucette. “We have to listen to what our people are saying and act on what they are saying.”

The only incumbent to lose his position was Max Morin as secretary. May Henderson garnered 866 votes to Morin’s 778.
The new vice president will be Gerald Morin who won with 1,221 votes. His nearest competitor was Darren Deschambeault with 726 votes.

Louis Gardiner was returned as treasurer with 1,400 votes to Guy Bouvier’s 918.

In the four races for regional director, the only incumbent challenged, Darlene McKay in Western Region 2, held her position by 546 votes to Janice Henry’s 397. Newly elected regional directors are Glen Hector McCallum (Northern Region 3), Michael Bell (Western Region 1), Penny Hurton (Western Region 2A), and Derek Langan (Eastern Region 2A). They join directors who were acclaimed: Lennard Morin (Eastern Region 1), Helene Johnson (Eastern Region 2), and Billy Kennedy (Western Region 1A), all incumbents, and Chester J. Herman (Northern Region 2) and Lela Arnold in (Western Region 3). No nominations were received for Eastern Region 3 and Northern Region 1.