After going almost six years without one, the Metis Nation – Saskatchewan finally held a legislative assembly over the weekend.
The main item settled at Saturday’s gathering was the date for an election.
Delegates voted unanimously to hold the next MN-S general election on February 4.
Eagle Feather News publisher John Lagimodiere says frustration over the infighting should produce a good voter turnout.
“I think that frustration will lead to big involvement in this election and we will have a bigger turnout than we’ve had in many years — which is good,” he says. “We need engagement, and that’s part of the process. So, for that, I’m optimistic. People have said ‘enough’ — so there is going to be huge interest and awareness on this, instead of apathy, because they’re tired of it.”
Lagimodiere says whoever wins the president election will likely have to be allies with most of the Provincial Metis Council.
“So if they could do it with a full slate, good,” he says. “It’s very difficult, though. It’s a big province. Issues from the north are different than issues from the south — similar but different. To try to pull a slate together would be very difficult politically. But I think they almost have to do that. Because we can see from the last four years that if you don’t, it’s very hard to get business done.”
Although the MN-S’s rules require an MNLA to be held twice a year, the last one was held in November 2010 because of political infighting.
The conflict has resulted in several court battles and the loss of federal funding.