Mark Arcand will serve another four-year term as chief of the Saskatoon Tribal Council.
10 delegates from each of the 7 First Nations under the STC cast their votes at the STC assembly at Dakota Dunes on Thursday.
Arcand emerged victorious with 40 of the votes compared to 35 for his challenger Robert Daniels.
Outside the assembly, Arcand addressed reporters on his new 4-year term.
“I’m very thankful of the Saskatoon Tribal Council, Chiefs, counselors, elders, youth, and our grassroots people, in having the confidence to, continue the work that we’ve already done in our great city and our our great communities to move forward to, have a better life for, for our people.”
Arcand says his main push, as directed by the member First Nations, in the next four years will be to continue to fight for homelessness initiatives in Saskatoon. His previous term was marked by the formation of the STC’s Wellness Centre aimed at helping serve Saskatoon’s most vulnerable population.
“We need the advocacy to build our communities up through capacity building, through strengthening our communities,” he said. “We have a lot of addictions crisis in our communities, in our urban settings. So, a treatment centre was something that’s high on our priorities list so people can get treatment and try to change their lives… it’s needed in our city and in our province.”
The newly re-elected tribal chief says he will also continue to work for the mandate provided for him by the seven member First Nations of the Saskatoon Tribal Council. These nations include Kinistin Saulteaux Nation, Mistawasis Nehiyawak, Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, Muskoday First Nation, One Arrow First Nation, Whitecap Dakota First Nation, and Yellow Quill First Nation.
“This position as tribal chief has no power,” said Arcand. “Basically this is an advocacy role that gets its direction from the seven First Nation chiefs. They give us the mandates, which include homelessness, vaccine clinics, the mental health and addictions vans, to help people.”
As for other elections across the province, Arcand threw his support behind Gordon Wyant for Saskatoon mayor. However, the STC chief said he is concerned a large turnover at city council may disrupt the relationship building the tribal council has done with the city in recent years.
When asked about the provincial election, Arcand didn’t make any bids of support for any political party, but said he was disappointed that homelessness was not a top issue for the candidates during the campaign.
Arcand now says he plans to take the next couple weeks off to spend time with his family before continuing his mandate in this new 4-year term.
(TOP PHOTO: Newly re-elected STC Tribal Chief Mark Arcand addresses reporters outside the STC assembly. Photo by Joel Willick.)