New La Ronge Band Chief Ready To Assume Office

New La Ronge Band Chief Ready To Assume Office

Tuesday, April 05, 2005 at 15:40

 

 

The new chief of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band expects to officially take office later this week.

 

Last Thursday, band members decided to make former councilor Tammy Cook-Searson the first female chief in the band’s history.

 

Cook-Searson defeated seven other candidates for chief, including runner-up Henry McKenzie. McKenzie was the runner-up to former chief Harry Cook in the last band election.

 

Cook-Searson received 770 votes – 160 more than McKenzie.

 

Another former councilor, Gordon Hardlotte finished with 375 votes.

 

Former chief Tom McKenzie finished with 347 votes, former councilor Irwin Hennie received 300 votes, Russell Charles had 78 votes, Keith Olsen captured 64 votes and Kelvin Lindskog had 51.

 

Cook-Searson’s council will consist of Hillary Cook, Doris Morin, Jimmy Roberts and Pam Mirasty in La Ronge, Bernice Roberts, Brian Hardlotte and Lester Roberts in Stanley Mission, Keith Merasty and John Halkett in Little Red, Thompson J. Charles in Grandmother’s Bay, Kenny Ratt in Sucker River and Leonard “Georgie” Halkett in Hall Lake/Morin Lake.

 

In all, almost 2,600 band members voted in this election — which is believed to be an all-time high.