Chief Tammy Cook-Searson was elected to a sixth term. (Submitted photo/Tammy Cook-Searson)

By Derek Cornet

Band Election

Cook-Searson reacts to campaign win

May 29, 2020 | 12:00 PM

Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) Chief Tammy Cook-Searson believes it was a challenging campaign due to the coronavirus pandemic that intensified during the election period.

“We started the campaign on Feb. 28, which was the last day of our term, then everything was going good,” she said. “I was campaigning and going door-to-door in the communities and then March 12 was when the coronavirus really started to impact us here in Saskatchewan.”

Not long afterwards, a state of emergency was declared in the province, which began to escalate as the number of cases rose. At that time, Cook-Searson was unsure what would happen because residents were just learning how serious of a health threat associated with COVID-19. First advanced polls were cancelled before the election tribunal, which was used for the first time in a LLRIB election, decided to cancel it altogether and call back council.

When it was decided the election would go ahead, it was also agreed upon that electronic voting would be used to encourage voters from staying away from the polls. Cook-Searson called the online voting a success as it gave members 15 days to cast their ballot.

“We had about the same amount of people vote from this election to the previous election,” she said. “It was down a little bit. Just over 3,500 people voted last time and around 3,400 this time.”

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Cook-Searson earned 40 per cent of the ballots cast with 1,346 out of 3,480 votes. Jude Ratt, who during the election promised to enhance the quality of life and living standards for members, placed second with 780 votes or 23 per cent. Natalie Aldridge took third with 456 votes followed by Bruce McKenzie with 358, Tom J. McKenzie with 292 and finally Eugene Mirasty with 186.

In the next 12 months, Cook-Searson is going to continue to focus on the completion of a $16.1 million wellness, treatment and recovery centre for northern Saskatchewan. She’s also going to continue to pursue settlements with the federal and provincial governments. For instance, Cook-Searson noted there’s been an offer for the Lose of Use settlement, which will be ratified and voted upon by membership soon.

“Land has already been chosen to expand the reserves in all six communities, then also some in Brabant Lake, Pinehouse Lake and off-reserve for economic development,” she said.

Work will also continue on the Cows and Plows agricultural benefit. The claim is currently in the process of being validated, but Cook-Searson is hopeful the band can have the process sped up.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno