Muskoday candidates concerned about safety, youth, and transparency

Ava Bear’s political and work experience includes 10 years on the band council, as well as two years as tribal Vice-Chief of the Saskatoon Tribal Council. She’s also served on numerous committees and boards and will soon be retiring as the band’s health director (14 years). She now hopes to follow in the footsteps of the American Vice President.

“Kamala Harris is a huge inspiration. She broke through that glass ceiling in the States and I think maybe it’s time for Muskoday to break that glass ceiling too and have a woman chief,” she said.

In addition to concerns surrounding safety in the community, Bear said she’s also interested in promoting family activities and having the band adopt its own election act, away from the current Indian Act system.

“There’s numerous issues and problems that have arisen that I’ve seen over the course of these few weeks,” she said.

Citing the need to have band members become more independent through ventures in food security and job training opportunities, Bear said it’s also a priority for her to ensure all band members feel included in decisions.

Kelly Bear

Kelly Bear. (Submitted photo)

In addition to one term as Councillor, Kelly Bear has been a member of the Muskoday Fire Department for 25 years and has worked for the Ministry of Highways for the past 13 years. Bear is also the eldest grandson of former Chief Andrew Bear who served 24 years, and his father, Eric Bear Jr. served as Councillor for 30 years.

“It is from them, well-respected leaders of my community, that I understand what it takes to serve both on and off-reserve membership. They have also taught me that Elders are very important to our community,” Bear said.

With respect to issues, Bear said he wants to create more opportunities for youth in the community, as well as address issues created by addictions.

“It’s going to take hard work, dedication, and an ear to hear…. qualities that I have. I want to emphasize the ancient proverb “it takes a village to raise a child”. Well, we need our community to gather together and wrap around one another.”

Elaine Valerie Smith-Ross

Elaine Ross. (Submitted photo)

Elaine Smith-Ross’s great-great grandfather was John Smith, the reserve’s founder, and she has six years experience as a band councillor. Smith-Ross also worked at the White Buffalo Treatment Centre as a councillor. She explained she was encouraged by her mom to run, and be the first nation’s first female chief.

“I want to better the situation in Muskoday in regards to the way people are feeling about drugs, alcohol, crime, and hunger,” she said.

Smith-Ross said she would also help ensure there is more transparency from council, and include all the members, both urban and on-reserve in the decision-making process. Smith-Ross also wants to explore the possibilities of a new sports arena and skate park on the reserve, as a way to get people outdoors and encourage more community involvement.

‘You never see youth playing outside anymore so I want to encourage that interaction and that fun that I grew up with,” she said.

Randy Maurice Bear

Randy Bear. (Muskoday First Nation)

Randy Bear said his decision to run for Chief came only after learing Herman Crain was retiring and not planning to run again. After getting support from elders and family, Bear tossed his name in the hat.

Bear has 15 years total experience on Muskoday council. Citing issues on the reserve with respect to drugs and gangs, Bear explained the number one priority of any government needs to be the safety and health of the community.

“So my number one priority is going to be to establish tribal police on Muskoday,” he said.

Bear also explained the true reflection of any society is how it treats its most vulnerable. For that, Bear said he would help enhance the community’s existing programs with respect to mental wellness and addictions.

“Only when you face the challenges and the root causes of the problems in the community, can you begin to heal as a community,” he said.

Bear added he would like to address the band’s housing crisis, and help create more recreational opportunities for youth.

Betty Prosper

Betty Prosper. (Submitted photo)

Betty Prosper was on the band’s justice committee for 10 years and also worked with Child and Family Services. Through her work as an addictions councilor, Prosper is quite concerned about the number of overdoses in the community, as well as the gang activity.

“I want people to feel safe in their community again and I don’t have a magic formula but I figured if we came together as a community, we could take back our community from these people,” she said, adding the band’s current banishment policy is not working.

In addition to concerns around safety, Prosper said she would also work hard to ensure there was better transparency from elected leaders.

“We only find out after they have started what they are doing,” she said.

Acknowledging she has no actual experience on council, Prosper said she is a good candidate because she is both fair and honest.

paNOW also reached out to Everette Bear for comment, but he declined

For those members who are voting in person on Friday, the polling station at the band hall will be open Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The ballot count afterwards will be live-streamed through the band’s Facebook page.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell

by Nigel Maxwell

Muskoday candidates concerned about safety, youth, and transparency

Ava Bear

Kelly Bear

Elaine Valerie Smith-Ross

Randy Maurice Bear

Betty Prosper

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