Chief Peter Beatty. (Submitted/ Tina Pelletier)

By Nigel Maxwell

Leadership

PBCN Chief announces retirement

Mar 14, 2021 | 8:59 AM

A political career spanning nearly 30 years, is coming to an end for the Chief of Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation (PBCN).

After a lengthy consultation with his wife and family, Peter Beatty decided not to seek re-election on April 13. Beatty told paNOW the decision to step down was not an easy one, and was based on a combination of personal reasons.

“For the most part I’ve been away from home for 28 years. In fact, two of our youngest, one of them is an RN, and you know I haven’t seen them grow up really,” he said.

In addition to wanting to spend more time with family, Beatty also acknowledged he will turn 67 this fall, meaning if re-elected, he would be in office until he was 70.

Chief Beatty along with PAGC Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte, and PAGC Vice Chief ChristopherJobb, were there in Feb. 2018, to offer Conrad Burns support, in his awareness campaign to bring the MMIWG hearings to Prince Albert. (Facebook/ PAGC)

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Chief Beatty at the Woodland Cree Gathering in 2017, along with the late Ron Michel, Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson, and MLA Doyle Vermette. (Facebook/ Tammy Cook – Searson)

Beatty was first elected to council in 1993, before being elected to Chief in 2013. During that time, PBCN changed its election code allowing for three-year terms, and Beatty was re-elected in 2015, and then again in 2018.

Reflecting back on his time in office, Beatty noted he was proud to have been a part of a number of projects and developments, including the PBCN taking control of both its family and health services in 1995.

“It turned out to be one of the biggest transfers in Canada at the time, and that organization has really worked well over the years. It’s really benefitted our communities. I couldn’t tell you off how many employees we have, or how many nurses we have, but it’s quite a high number,” he said.

In April 2020, PBCN was given early support by Prince Albert city council for a multistage plan to develop a 14-acre parcel of land across from the Alfred Jenkins Field House. Phase one of PBCN’s plan will see a medical center constructed on the site. At the time, Beatty said they could potentially break ground on the project in 2021, but acknowledged construction may be delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Another highlight of Beatty’s career has been the developments created as a result of treaty land entitlement (TLE).

“In fact, my home community of Deschambault Lake is a reserve today because of TLE,” he said.

Chief Beatty attends the opening of a 10 bed boarding house, in Dec. 2020. (File photo/ paNOW Staff)

With respect to economic development, a number of big projects were created during Beatty’s time in office such as the Petro Canada gas stations in Prince Albert and Creighton. The Creighton station also has a Tim Hortons location attached to it.

“Those have benefitted our communities greatly over the years,” he said, adding he is very thankful for the great relationship he’s had over the years with the respective mayors of those communities.

One would be remiss not acknowledging the construction of the Northern Lights Casino in Prince Albert, and the impact it has had. The initial plans involved a 50/ 50 partnership between PBCN and Prince Albert Grand Council (known at the time as Prince Albert Tribal Council). The building was later leased to the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) and has become one of the biggest revenue drivers for the organization.

“That turned out to be a huge boom for all the first nations in Saskatchewan because revenues from the NLC were around 50 per cent of all the revenues to SIGA,” he said, adding PBCN now owns 100 per cent of the building leased to SIGA.

Beatty was a PBCN councillor, when the Northern Lights Casino opened in 1996. (Submitted photo)

Commenting on the past year and the challenges brought on by COVID, Beatty said a lot of in-person community meetings were brought to a halt. Beatty said they’ve been forced to rely on video conferencing and radio to keep residents informed.

Nominations for the PBCN election are scheduled for March 23. When asked what advice he would offer his successor, Beatty referred to the advice he received from his mentor and friend – former PAGC Grand Chief and Senator Ron Michel.

“Dedication and commitment to your work but above all, treat everyone on an equal level,” Beatty said. “You can’t demand respect, it has to be earned.”

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell