The leader of Lac La Ronge Indian Band is looking to change her title from chief to member of Parliament for the Liberal Party of Canada.
Chief Tammy Cook-Searson, who has held that top title since 2005, announced last November that she would run for the Liberal nomination for the riding of Desnethé–Missinippi–Churchill River.
Last week, the Liberal Party of Canada said that Cook-Searson is to be acclaimed as the Liberal candidate in the next general election, which is slated for October of this year.
Last night, Cook-Searson celebrated her nomination at a Team Trudeau nomination event that was held at the JRMCC in La Ronge.
LLRIB Director of Education Simon Bird opened the ceremony, followed by MBC Radio’s Cree broadcaster Abel Charles, who led with a prayer.
Cook-Searson opened her speech by showing gratitude to her husband, Jim, who just donated a kidney to his aunt. Also in the crowd were her parents from Stanley Mission, her brother, three children and two grandchildren.
“In my experience as a leader, one of the most significant things I’ve learned was the importance of being available,” Cook-Searson said to a crowd of about 60 people. “I was born and raised in the north, so I understand the issues. I lived off the land on a family trapline, and I learned the values of our homes and communities.”
Cook-Searson has been involved in the community in many capacities and was an elected band councillor for many years before her time as chief. She also serves as the president for Kitsaki Management Limited Partnership, which executes the for-profit economic development activities of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band.
“I know what it takes to create jobs and business development in northern Saskatchewan. I believe that economic self-determination is key to our future,” explained Cook-Searson.
Kitsaki Management Limited Partnership’s portfolio includes Athabasca Catering, Northern Resource Trucking and First Nations Insurance Services.
Since 2015, the Desnethé–Missinippi–Churchill River MP riding, which is home to just under 70,000 people, has been held by the NDP’s Georgina Jolibois. The last time the Liberal party held that spot was by Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation member Gary Merasty from 2006-2007.
The previous federal election saw a tight race between Jolibois and Liberal candidate Lawrence Joseph, the former FSIN chief from between 2006-2009 with only 82 votes between the two.
Cook-Searson met with Prime Minister Trudeau last September to advocate for a $21 million mental health centre in La Ronge. The centre would be used as a strategy to remedy an ongoing addiction crisis throughout the north.
“A good example of working together was the recent announcement made on February 14th, 2019 for the wellness health recovery centre.”
In the announcement, the federal government pledged $11.6 million, the provincial government gave $2.5 million, and the LLRIB put up $2 million towards the capital construction of the wellness centre.
Team Trudeau is a ‘new nomination process’ that aims to ‘election talented, diverse, and hardworking community leaders.’
“I enjoy getting out to see people in their communities,” Cook-Searson explains. “I enjoy visiting people in their homes, at fishing derbies, at graduations, hunting trips, cultural gatherings, at the hospital, wherever.”
The federal election is scheduled for Oct. 21, 2019.
Bird closed the nomination event by saying, “As somebody once said to me, let the race begin!”
(PHOTO: Chief Tammy Cook-Searson addressing the crowd at the JRMCC last night. Photo by Katrina Cameron.)