FSIN confirms Jonathan as vice-chief

On June 5 during the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations assembly, chiefs and other delegates voted 42-2 to reject the ruling of an appeals body that declared last year’s election of Vice-Chief Kimberly Jonathan was flawed. The independent appeals tribunal found, in an April 16 decision, that Chief Electoral Officer Loretta Pete Lambert breached her duties and was in a conflict of interest that caused a “serious and extensive degradation” of the FSIN electoral process. The tribunal set aside the election and called for a new election for first vice-chief. But the joint Executive Council/Indian Government Commission met April 30 and chose not to call the by-election. They reinstated Jonathan in May and recommended FSIN vacate the tribunal’s decision. Jonathan’s election made her the first woman elected as FSIN vice-chief in the federation’s history.