President returned, but majority of MNA council is new

Voters – what few turned out – sent a mixed message to the Métis Nation of Alberta on Sept. 6.

President Audrey Poitras was returned to her position to begin her sixth term, more than doubling her opponent Don McCargar. Poitras received 1,388 votes to McCargar’s 643.

Poitras is a “trail blazer for Métis women and for Métis citizens in general,” said Robert Doucette, president for Metis Nation-Saskatchewan. “President Poitras has consistently provided great advice, strong leadership and a stable Métis government that citizens in Alberta and Canada in general look to with admiration and respect.”

However, half of the incumbent regional presidents were ousted. Region 3 (which takes in the cities of Calgary, Red Deer and Lethbridge) saw a clean sweep with both the incumbent president and vice president loosing.  Sharon Pasula, who held the position of vice president for Region 4, stepped up to run for provincial vice-president but lost to Toby Racette in a tight vote of 995 to 961. Of the 14-person MNA council, 10 people are new, with a by-election taking place to fill the vice-president position in Region 2. In that same region, Karen Collins was acclaimed as president.  Darrell Ghostkeeper was acclaimed in Region 5 as vice president.

“(The turnover) probably says that there are areas where people felt there could be improvements,” said Poitras.
New people on the council bring new ideas and new energy, she added.

Low voter turnout, with just over 2,000 of approximately 45,000 members filling out ballots, is consistent with general apathy in most elections, said Poitras.

However, she did admit that cutting the MNA’s communication department probably had an impact.
“Our fight in court for harvesting utilized a lot of our resources. We followed the direction of our membership that if we couldn’t get an agreement to go to court, and that’s what we did. We knew very well that that takes money and there were some things that had to be downsized,” said Poitras. “Our members have clearly said to us that communication is very important and they want to see that back up and running.”

The new MNA council will be meeting soon to elect treasurer and secretary and to finalize details for the upcoming orientation and retreat, where priorities for the next three years will be set.

Poitras expects work to continue on increasing the citizenship registry. All red and white card holders have been contacted now and informed of the need to prove genealogy and to register as citizens. Only one-third of the present membership is on the registry.

Looking back at her years as president, Poitras said the MNA has come a long way. Years of hard work have seen strong relationships built with municipal and provincial governments, as well as the Métis National Council. The MNA has established bases of operation, owning its provincial building and many of its regional buildings. Focus has continued on the labour market and education with the creation of the Rupertland Institution and partnership with the University of Alberta. Cultural education has focused on the development of the Métis Crossing, which recently received $3.5 million in federal funding for expansion.

“At times I am tired,” said Poitras, “but for me it always is and always has been about trying to make some changes for the better for our members. All it takes is one small change that helped an individual, a family, or a group of our people, and it does rejuvenate me.”

Official election results: Region 1 winners Willie Landstrom (president) and Diane Scoville (vice president); Region 3, Marlene Lanz (president) and Joe Pimlott (vice president); Region 4, Cecile Bellrose (president) and James Atkinson (vice president); Region 5 Bev New (president); and Region 6, Sylvia V. Johnson (president) and Carol Ridsdale (vice president).