Chief Tammy Cook-Searson said the band is headed to the negotiation table to settle the 'cows and plows' claim. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Year in Review

Wellness centre opening, progress on ‘cows and plows’ among LLRIB highlights in 2022

Dec 22, 2022 | 8:00 AM

As 2022 draws to a close, larongeNOW is taking a look back on the most important and impactful stories of the year, as selected by our reporters and editorial staff.

Chief Tammy Cook-Searson called 2022 a very busy year for the Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB).

“With COVID restrictions lifting and people getting back to doing stuff, our communities have been really busy doing a lot of community events,” she said. “There’s been culture camps, youth camps, hunting and just camping out with the Elders. There’s been lots of community gatherings.”

A major milestone this year for LLRIB was the grand opening of the Woodland Wellness Centre on June 21. The $16.1 million facility includes 24 beds for clients, offices for prevention and recovery employees, along with traditional and multi-purpose rooms. The back of the building features a pond with walkways, as well as a structure that can be used year-round for sweats.

The centre was made possible through a $11.6-million commitment from the federal government, $2.5 million from the province and $2 million from the band itself. It is open to anyone who needs treatment regardless of race.

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“We want to do the first intake for the inpatient part on Jan. 11,” Cook-Searson said. “As I think about wellness and helping people, I hope people come there and not wait until how they think things should be. Just come there as you are. Whenever you are ready, just come to the wellness centre, come get healing. We want it to be a welcoming environment.”

The hiring of staff has been ongoing since June with Elders Sally Milne and John Halkett brought in for their expertise. The goal for the centre is to eventually have continuous intake for an eight-week program, specifically designed for each client’s personal needs.

Cook-Searson noted the construction of six mini-healing lodges to accompany the centre will begin this spring for each community. They will be off-grid and resemble trapline living.

The LLRIB continues to move forward with its Treaty 6 Agricultural Benefits Specific Claim. The band recently learned it was accepted and partially validated with negotiation expected to begin in January to late February.

“Somewhere in there is when we will be able to get to the table,” Cook-Searson said. “They still have to have people in place to negotiate Treaty 6. Our claim is huge because we are one the largest First Nations in Saskatchewan and in Canada with almost 12,000 band members. It will be one of the larger claims with the Treaty 6 Agricultural Benefit.”

An election is also scheduled to occur some time in March. Changes include electronic voting to any member who wants to vote electronically on and off reserve, the creation of a separate three-member elections appeals committee, allowing candidates to be nominated in person or in advance using a form and the creation of a code of conduct during the elections campaign period.

“Once the election tribunal is in place, they will recommend the dates to chief and council, then we will ratify them,” Cook-Searson said.

Another major event for the LLRIB was the McCafe Fire in June, which led to the general evacuation of the Stanley Mission. The fire burned more than 12,000 hectares of forest and it came close to the south end of the community.

Other events in 2022 included the opening of a skatepark in Sucker River, a new water treatment plant in Stanley Mission and construction of a youth centre in Grandmother’s Bay.

“I wish everyone a merry Christmas and a happy New Year,” Cook-Searson said. “We look forward to working with each and everyone in the coming year as we move forward. We have been blessed as a Lac La Ronge Indian Band to have such an amazing staff and membership that help us out.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno