Joyce Naytowhow-McLeod. (Submitted photo)

By Nigel Maxwell

Election Planning

MLCN Chief candidate believes there’s a link between lowering crime and improving economic development

Sep 2, 2020 | 5:47 PM

History could be made later this month if Montreal Lake Cree Nation (MLCN) band members elect their first female chief.

Joyce Naytowhow-McLeod is challenging Frank Roberts. Naytowhow-McLeod, who has nearly four decades of experience in education, told paNOW after living in and travelling to numerous communities across the country, she wanted to come home and make a difference.

“I am a good decision maker and I believe in integrity and I think I have all the leadership qualities people are looking for in a Chief,” she said.

Naytowhow-McLeod started her campaigning on Tuesday, which included door knocking and she expressed to paNOW the continuous feedback she received regarding the need for political change in the community.

“We need accountability, we need transparency, we need to find out what’s going on and we are not getting that,” she said.

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Joyce Naytowhow – McLeod believes it’s time for a change in the community. (Submitted photo)

In addition to greater accountability from leadership, one of Naytowhow-McLeod’s bigger issues is economic development. She said, if elected, she would help get more people working through the offering of more skills training.

“I believe if there’s more training and more eduction for our people, I think maybe we can combat the alcohol and drugs,” she said, adding one of the first things she would do is appoint an economic development officer.

Crime

Naytowhow-McLeod acknowledged crime is a big problem in the community, and one that affects a number of families. She said her belief was that the solution lies with addressing the root causes; and the example she gave was providing assistance for people who have been released from custody, as well as offering more programming on reserve for women, men and youth.

“I know theres’s money available from the agencies but we don’t have access to that,” she said.

Naytowhow-McLeod also explained the band does have a bylaw related to dealing with and removing gang members, but added it can only be enforced by RCMP and the community’s bylaw officers, and at this time the community does not have any bylaw officers.

The candidates

The election was originally scheduled to takes place last March, was postponed to July, and then was ultimately postponed to Sept. 30 due to concerns related to COVID-19.

The finalized list of candidates was issued on Aug. 20 by Chief Electoral Officer Lawrence Lewis.

The candidates for the off-reserve urban councillor seat are Darren Bird, Leon Sorenson, and Eldon Henderson.

A byelection was also called for one reserve councillor position (formerly held by Robert Lavalee) and the candidates are Ricky Bird and Jeffrey Okemow.

Band members have the option to vote in person at a polling station or electronically. There are no advance polls. Anyone voting online must register at www.onefeather.ca/nations/montreallake.

Another byelection to be announced?

As of Wednesday, Sept. 2, Cal Henderson was still listed as a councillor on the MLCN website, and was still in charge of a number of portfolios including justice, housing, and church/culture.

Last July, Henderson was convicted on an impaired driving charge from May 3.

As per the band’s election act, the offices of chief and councillor shall immediately become vacant when the person holding that office is convicted of a criminal offence that affects their ability to give effective leadership and may include any offences intending to corrupt morals, disorderly conduct, or involve drugs or alcohol.

paNOW contacted Lawrence Lewis through email for comment and was directed to band administration. Lewis explained this was a “community matter that will inform the election process.”

The band administration has not responded to requests for comment.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell