Bird wins by landslide vote

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Former Vice-Chief Alphonse Bird was elected Chief of the Prince Albert Tribal Council on the first ballot of the October 5 election.

Bird, of the Montreal Lake band, defeated incumbent A.J. Felix of the Sturgeon Lake band and challenger Leo Omani, winning 103 of the 153 ballots. Chiefs of the 12 bands and one representative for every 200 band members cast votes. The tribal council represents an estimated 23,000 band members.

The 31-year-old chief has been known for his deep concern for justice issues, and has, with Felix, been involved with the inquiry into the shooting death of Native trapper Leo LaChance by white supremacist Carney Nerland. The two chiefs risked possible legal action in uncovering Nerland as an RCMP informer in order to ensure the inquiry was able to seek all the truth.

Bird is expected to continue his efforts for a Native justice system and to continue his fight to prevent federal cuts on welfare to treaty Indians living off the reserve. The savings to Ottawa are estimated at $20 million annually.

He has been active in efforts to achieve greater representations by Native people in the workforce and a greater voice for his people in the welfare of the city of Prince Albert.