By Bryan Eneas

PAGC elects new vice chief after shocking suicide announcement

Oct 19, 2016 | 7:18 AM

Over the course of two days, 244 delegates from across Saskatchewan weighed three candidates, each vying for one of two Vice Chief positions within the Prince Albert Grand Council. (PAGC) The evening, however, was overshadowed by a tragic announcement.

Before ballots were counted, PAGC’s Grand Chief Ron Michel announced the fourth suicide in northern Saskatchewan in recent weeks. The crowd issued an audible gasp as Michel informed them a 10-year-old from the community of Deschambault Lake had hung herself.

Michel concluded his announcement by saying a roundtable will be formed to address the suicide crisis within First Nations communities. A prayer was said, and the drum group Ironswing sang a song in her honour.

After two rounds of voting, Christopher Jobb emerged victorious in the election, with 123 votes in his favour.

Jobb began his first speech as vice chief by addressing the shocking announcement. He said he could feel the collective pain in the audience when Michel made his announcement.

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“It’s with great sadness to hear what happened to that little girl today,” Jobb said. “We have a lot of work ahead of us…a great deal of work we need to do, we can’t let this happen.”

Jobb thanked his supporters, and said he ran to support his people.

“I will work tireless for our nation, I promise you that,” Jobb said.

After one round of voting, candidate Walter Constant from the James Smith Cree Nation was eliminated from contention after yielding only 13 votes. Brian Hardlotte, the incumbent from the Lac La Ronge Indian Band finished with 111 votes. Jobb had 120 votes, just three shy of the required total.

Delegates paused for 45 minutes while new ballots were made. A two hour timer was set on the second round of voting, when Hardlotte was pitted directly against Jobb.

Hardlotte congratulated Jobb on his victory and asked staff of the Grand Council to respect Jobb’s win, and support him in every way they could. He also weighed in on Michel’s announcement.

Hardlotte expressed his condolences to the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, and said he will continue to pray for First Nations youth.

“I know we are all strong,” Hardlotte said. “We will deal with this challenge that we have.”

Hardlotte said as a man of the lands, he feels he has been neglecting his responsibilities to Mother Earth. He said even before he was a councillor for the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, his responsibilities were to the land.

“I know my dad back there is happy that I’m going to be keeping the trapline again,” Hardlotte said. “That I’m going to be getting industry, and also the outfitters, and whatever comes to our lands to consult with our people before they come to them.”

After the ballots were tallied Jobb was sworn in as the new vice chief. A bonnet ceremony was preformed, where Jobb’s new bonnet was smudged and placed on his head while he was draped in a star quilt.

Jobb will hold the position of vice chief for the next three years.

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas