By Roman Hayter
John P. Roberts is one of three candidates running for Chief of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band.
Roberts has been a band Councillor in Stanley Mission for 15 years and is being encouraged by his family and friends to pursue the Chief position. “I have paid my dues and worked hard for the people, and that is why I have decided to sacrifice myself by not seeking re-election as a Band Councillor and see how things turn out,” said Roberts. “I’m 62 years old, but my heart is still young. My passion has always been to help others, and I intend to continue helping them.”
If elected, Roberts would like to continue the fight for reserve lands in all reserves, pressure the federal government harder to speed up the Treaty 6 Agricultural Benefits Claim, fight for more annual treaty money so each band member can receive more than five dollars a year, and try and get funding for young parents to learn the Cree language so they can pass it on to their children.
Roberts also stated he would like to steer the First Nation away from the Indian Act and focus on self-government to develop a band constitution to create band laws that will be used to create community safety officers to focus on public safety within the community.
Roberts said a few of the things he would place as a higher priority if he were to be elected would be public safety, the creation of more jobs off and on-reserve for band members, advocate for more funding for better health centres and services, and more housing funding to build more houses on reserves.
Election Day is Thursday, March 30 between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., with Advanced Polls taking place on today between 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. (Photo submitted)