Herman Crain says the decision to retire was not an easy one. (Submitted photo)

By Nigel Maxwell

Election

Muskoday prepares for election; current Chief retiring

Mar 5, 2021 | 12:03 PM

In two weeks, members of Muskoday First Nation will head to the polls, but a longtime member of council will not be on the ballot.

Herman Crain, who was elected in 2019, has chosen not to run again. Crain revealed to paNOW the decision to step down was not easy, and has been on his mind since before Christmas.

“After a lot of thought, and considering of a lot of things, the time was right for me to step down,” he said, adding he looks forward to having more time to spend with his family.

Prior to being elected chief, Crain was elected as councillor for Muskoday First Nation from 1985 to 1989, and again from 1991 until March of 2019. Crain admitted his biggest regret will be not seeing the projects council has been working on come to fruition such as a new store in the community and some solar projects. Crain said another thing COVID has taught him is the importance of food security and talked with excitement about the community’s partnership with Landon College in Sarnia, Ontario to build a greenhouse last summer.

“We’re getting into aquaponics. It’s all set and ready to go and as soon as the weather is right, we will be installing that equipment,” he said, adding since the greenhouse is located on the school property, the youth in the community will play an active role.

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Reflecting back on the past 30 years, Crain said it’s tough to name just one or two highlights, explaining he was proud to be have been a part of the development of the Muskoday Volunteer Fire Department, as well as helping organize the First Nations summer games, hosted by the community in 2013.

‘That was a tremendous effort by a lot of people,” he said.

Crain also reflected on the Husky Oil Spill in July 2016. As a result of a pipeline break near Maidstone that sent roughly 40 per cent of 225,000 litres of diluted heavy oil from a pipeline into the North Saskatchewan River, community members were without potable water for nearly three weeks.

“With the emergency management people I worked with, we were able to get through that but I think of that time often,” he said. “It just makes you think how important water is.”

The upcoming election has been scheduled to take place on March 19 (9 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and this time around, there are twice as many candidates running for chief with six: Ava Bear, Everette Bear, Kelly James Bear, Randy Maurice Bear, Betty Prosper and Elaine Valerie Smith-Ross. When asked what advice he may pass on to his successor, Crain said he would encourage them not to forget the people who put them there.

“My late mother, I always valued her teachings and upbringing. She always told me and all her children you treat people the way you want to be treated,” he said. “That’s what I held close to my heart and that’s how I did my work”

In closing, Crain said he would like to thank all the people who have had faith and trust in him over the last 34 years.

“I just hope I made a difference in some individuals lives and hope it was positive. I honestly believe I left everything on the table and did the best I coud,” he said.

In addition to the six candidate for Chief, there are also 23 people running for the five council seats.

Keeping the election safe

Electoral Officer Burke Ratte assured paNOW a number of measures are being taken to keep people safe during the pandemic. In addition to ensuring social distancing requirements are met and the voting area is kept clean and sanitized, every voter who shows up at the poll station will be provided with a special “voter package safety kit’ which includes a pencil, the ballot, and a mask.

In addition to activity happening at the poll station on reserve, over 800 ballots have been mailed out.

“And the 800 plus is based on the addresses and data the band keeps,” Ratte explained.

During his 10 years of experience as an electoral officer, Ratte has overseen over 80 elections. He explained one of the new standards that has emerged during the pandemic has been the use of live streaming. He said the technology negates the need to have scrutineers at the polling station.

“Pretty much a lot of scrutineers are just signing in remotely and just watching,” he said.

Ratte added the process has also worked great at nomination meetings, and has helped encourage overall member participation in the election, because they can watch the entire process, including the ballot count, from the comfort of their homes.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell