Craig McCallum representing Canoe Lake Cree First Nation at the 2019 Senators Cup. (File Photo/paNOW Staff)

By paNOW Staff

REPRESENTING TREATY RIGHTS

Canoe Lake man looking at the road ahead after being named 4th Vice-Chief of the FSIN

Oct 10, 2023 | 6:00 AM

A former WHL player said he’s still celebrating a big win but is ready to represent First Nations people in the executive of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN).

Craig McCallum of Canoe Lake Cree First Nation in northwest Saskatchewan was elected the 4^th Vice-Chief during the FSIN’s Assembly and Trade Show last week.

In a very close race, McCallum won the election by just 39 votes over incumbent Heather Bear and former Councillor of Wahpeton Dakota Nation Curtis Standing.

Speaking to paNOW just days after the election win, McCallum knew it would be a tight race heading in.

“It was really great to run with Heather and Curtis. We ran into each other a lot over the course of the month, we checked on each other and asked how we are doing. We weren’t running against each other; we were running for a position.”

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McCallum said the victory still hasn’t sunk in as he took this past weekend to celebrate the moment with friends and community members. He added the win was an emotional one for him and his family.

“I was really grateful that a lot of people believed in me and see me as worthy to take up that role and represent them. It was a super proud moment for me and my community.”

When asked whether or not he believed he was going to win, McCallum said anyone who runs for a high-ranking position in the FSIN goes in believing that they have the support needed for victory but noted, that they have to prepare for all outcomes. He said this was a lesson he learned while playing with the Prince Albert Raiders.

“Every time we stepped on the ice, we believed and hoped that we’d win but we didn’t always win. For me, I wasn’t worried about the results, all I was worried about was trying to help people understand who I was and listen to what I cared about.”

On Tuesday, McCallum said he will meet with staff at the FSIN and those now a part of his portfolio. He said the role of a Vice-Chief is to help fulfill the mandates set by FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron and other Chiefs in the Federation.

Some of the issues included in the portfolio for the 4^th Vice-Chief include on and off-reserve housing, treaty land entitlement, forestry, mining and water resources, and environmental impact assessments.

He said he would try to be a positive and fighting voice for his community and other First Nations.

“Everything happens for a reason. Now I’m in this role and I’m going to work hard every day and try to make my people proud,” he said.

“Our First Nations people, no matter where they live, they should have equal rights and access to benefits, (I will) continue to advocate for that.”

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panews@pattisonmedia.com