For the first time in its history, the Black Lake First Nation will be led by a woman.
The band held its chief and council elections on Friday and chose Coreen Sayazie among three candidates as its new chief.
Band members also elected seven people to the band council — with only one incumbent being re-elected.
Joining John Toutsaint on council, is Trevor Boneleye, Darlene Fern, Delbert Bouvier, George Catholic, Pauline Thatcher and Joe Renie.
MBC spoke with former chief Ricky Robillard to get his thoughts on the election.
“I am very pleased to find out that Black Lake elected their first woman Chief in its history,” said Robillard. “I am very confident with her leadership and the council that has been electec and I trust they will continue the economic development that is happening in Black Lake.”
The former chief played a vital role in partnering with SaskPower to bring the Tazi Twe Hydroelectric Project to the community.
Last year, the band voted in favour of the project, which would be the first ever hydro project in Saskatchewan to be situated entirely on reserve land. The project would divert water from the Fond du Lac River and is expected to be complete by 2020.
The facility is expected to bring over $1 billion in benefits to Black Lake during its 90 year life-span.
While Robillard doesn’t believe this project had any affect on Friday’s election, he does hope Black Lake’s new leadership will invest in similar economic projects in the future.
His hope going forward is that the members of the Black Lake First Nation remain confident in this leadership and not be afraid of change.
“This whole national realm of First Nations governance is changing so rapidly that we have to change with them,” said Robillard. “People remain scared of change and that is something we have always struggled with.”
Now that his time serving as chief has come to an end, Robillard says he plans to spend more time with his family.