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(Submitted Photo/Curtis Standing)
Upcoming Election

Former Wahpeton councillor running to become next fourth vice-chief of FSIN

Sep 25, 2023 | 5:00 PM

A member of the Wahpeton Dakota Nation is looking to become the next fourth vice-chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN).

Curtis Standing is one of three who officially put their name forward for next month’s election. He previously ran in 2021 but lost to Heather Bear, who’s held the position since 2014.

Standing told paNOW he believes there needs to be change in FSIN’s leadership group.

“You always need a turnover of people and personality. I’m at that age, I got that experience. I’ve lived in Ottawa; I’ve lived here in Saskatchewan; I’ve gone to university [where] I got my business degree.”

Standing is no stranger to the world of politics. He served as a councillor of Wahpeton Dakota Nation from 2020 to 2023.

He currently hosts the Indigenous Radio Show podcast. It covers a wide range of topics that impact Indigenous people like homelessness, drug and crime activity, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, residential schools, and more.

He said the podcast also embodies what he thinks FSIN is currently lacking — proper communication and transparency about these issues and what they’re doing to help combat them.

“All these younger people need confidence; they need to believe in an organization that lobbies on their behalf,” he said.

Meanwhile, also running for fourth vice-chief is incumbent Heather Bear and Craig McCallum from Canoe Lake Cree First Nation.

The election will happen on Oct. 5, 2023.

Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow

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