By Bryan Eneas

P.A. Grand Council gathers for annual assembly

Oct 17, 2016 | 5:00 PM

Representing a population the size of Prince Albert, the Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) has its own financial responsibilities to answer to.

The annual assembly of the 12 communities which make up PAGC commences today, with discussions about audited financial statements, business development, and many other issues.

The PAGC Grand Chief Ron Michel said the 2015 audits have all passed through without disruption.

“Our auditors have done very well. We just finished a motion that finances of the grand council have a clean audit,” Michel said.

Michel said 2015 provided a few interesting challenges for the PAGC.

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This included “trying to accommodate as much as possible finances to our First Nations in terms of programming such as education, health so on so forth,” he said.

After the grand entrance ceremony, the Thunderingsky Drum Group sang a song to honour the three girls from La Ronge and Stanley Mission.

Michel said PAGC staff are in discussions with Health Canada to figure out how to end the suicide crisis in north central Saskatchewan.

“There should be more (conversation) through us so we can start using our elders, start using our communities in terms of servicing the issues of our children,” Michel said. “Certainly, there has been a lot of movement towards keeping our communities safe in terms of alcohol and drugs.”

This will be the grand chief’s last assembly as leader of the PAGC. He said he is going to be taking some time to rest and focus on his health.

“I announced I will not be seeking re-election a year from now,” Michel said. “I’ve got one year left.”

Nominations for PAGC’s vice chief positions will be announced today by electoral officer’s Milton Burns and Jason Merasty. Polls open tomorrow at 10 a.m. with votes set to be tallied over the lunch break.

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas