By Derek Cornet

LLRIB chief looks back on work done in 2018

Dec 24, 2018 | 11:00 AM

As 2018 comes to an end, Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) chief Tammy Cook-Searson believes there’s been a lot of work accomplished in the last year members should be proud of.

Cook-Searson said progress has been made in a number of areas including education, governance and infrastructure. In 2018, recruitment for teachers was successful with 95 per cent of positions filled by the start of the school year. An additional superintendent with a focus on special education was also hired, and system-wide literacy and numeracy initiatives were implemented. Cook-Searson also noted every post-secondary student who applied for funding in the 2018/2019 school year was approved and a record number of student scholarship were handed out.

“We also been going out to the band membership with the education authority,” she said, adding the creation of one should allow for more federal funds for on-reserve schools.

The LLRIB has been busy in recent months hosting community meetings in regards to approving a draft land code. In the 1990s, Cook-Season said the band initially pursued a land code, but it was voted down by membership in a plebiscite. There will be more meetings and work completed in 2019 on the land code as council is confident it will take control away from the federal government and put it back in the hands of the band.

A new election act was also developed and Cook-Season added every band member should receive one at their residence or in the mail. Members have three months to examine the documents and Cook-Searson said if there are any challenges to it, a vote on the act will likely occur during Treaty Days next year.

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“The election act is now going out to all community members,” she said. “The draft has been delivered to every house on the reserve.”

As for infrastructure in 2018, Cook-Searson stated work began on the first $6.3 million phase of water and sewer upgrades at Big Rocks, Jack Pine, Morin’s Hill and 101 areas, construction started on a $4 million multipurpose centre at Bells Point and $2.5 million was spent on new housing in all LLRIB communities. She mentioned, in 2019, an additional $2.8 million will be budgeted for new houses, renovations will start at Sally Ross School in Hall Lake, and water and sewer system upgrades and a new lagoon will be built in Grandmother’s Bay.

With the holiday season now in full-swing, Cook-Searson wants to remind residents to reach out to those going through a difficult time. She said it makes a difference to let people know you care and are thinking of them.

“We’ve had a lot of losses in our communities and especially during Christmas people struggle more,” Cook-Searson said. “I want to wish everyone a safe Christmas and all the best in 2019.”

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno