Bruce McKenzie wants to look into the funding involved with the Treaty 6 Agricultural Benefits Claim, also known as ‘Cows and Plows.’ (Image Credit: Submitted photo/Bruce McKenzie)

By Derek Cornet

band election

McKenzie has big plans if elected LLRIB chief

Mar 25, 2026 | 1:14 PM

Stanley Mission’s Bruce McKenzie is looking to become the next chief of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB).  

McKenzie is no stranger to campaigning for public office as this marks his fourth time running in a LLRIB election.  

He has a list of areas he’d like to make changes to including mental heath and addictions, living conditions, educational opportunities, supporting small business development for band members, economic opportunities in commercial logging and fishing, Elder and youth programming, infrastructure upgrades, housing, the creation of an urban councillor, and looking into the funding involved with the Treaty 6 Agricultural Benefits Claim, also known as ‘Cows and Plows.’ 

“I see a lot of needs in areas, especially in mental health and addictions. I see a lot of folks who are getting into a lot of drug activities and other issues that pop up because of that type of activity. I want to tackle those issues,” McKenzie explained. 

“I want to establish a taskforce to involve all leaders from all of the communities and bring some professionals, [like] social workers, addictions workers, to essentially bring a taskforce together to try and tackle this problem. Maybe establish smaller wellness centres in all of the communities instead of people going elsewhere for treatment. Even bringing different types of healing to people who are suffering with addictions. There is no cookie-cutter solution to all of these problems.” 

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With more than 5,500 band members living off-reserve, he’d also like to develop additional housing so more people can move to their home communities, as well as create an urban councillor position to represent them. 

“I was visiting Prince Albert and Saskatoon and a lot of reason why they urbanize is a lack of housing. There are 5,000 of them out there. These are growing communities and I don’t know if the funding is there to keep up with the housing, maybe it’s not and that’s why they urbanize,” McKenzie noted. 

“I have been advocating for an urban councillor for the last three elections and this is my fourth election. I am still hoping to get in and provide an urban councillor.” 

McKenzie would also like to find a way to boost funding to social assistance recipients, as well as enlarge public buildings in LLRIB communities. For instance, he said the clinic in Stanley Mission could use an upgraded space.  

McKenzie holds Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Arts degrees, as well as a Masters of Education degree with a focus on administration. He has been an educator and administrator for 29 years.  

Other candidates seeking the three-year term are incumbent Tammy Cook-Searson, Jude Ratt and Larry Roberts. Election day is March 30 with polls open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com