The group representing all non-status Indians and Metis living off reserve in Saskatchewan has a new president.
John Hanikenne was elected to the post at a Coalition of Aboriginal Peoples of Saskatchewan (CAPS) weekend meeting in Saskatoon.
Hanikenne takes over from Kim Beaudin, who served in that role for 10 years but stepped down so he could focus more of his time as vice president of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples.
Hanikenne says one of the first things he hopes to do as president is to have a grassroots-level meeting with Aboriginal people living off reserve and in urban centres that need support.
He says the issues of all Aboriginal peoples need to be heard, whether they live on a reserve or in the urban centres.
Ferland McKay of Cumberland House was elected as the vice president of CAPS at the same time that Hanikenne was elected as president.