Joe Blyan new prez for Local 97

Joe Blyan, a self-described "war horse" within the Metis movement, became president of Metis Local 97 (Cromdale area) by acclamation March 25.

The former interim president now has a firm mandate to lead his membership and says a first priority is to set up a store front office to help people in the area and make Native people aware of the local.

"I think that's going (to mean) success (in) Local 97; it's going to stay community," he says. Although the local has been around for the last eight to nine years, it has been "dormant." Blyan wants to make it an active force in the lives of Native people in community by, firstly, providing a referral service.

"I have no intention of duplicating any services or organization. I merely want to encourage (people) to take advantage of existing ones. I think by providing that referralmembers will come out. They want to see something done for them. They just don't want to become members."

He would also like to see the local and its membership rally around such issues as housing and services for youth.

The local plans to work with Metis Urban Housing and Blyan says he is willing to negotiate with landlords in the area to ensure tenants are being treated fairly.

James Atkinson, 25, who was elected to the position of vice-president by acclamation, says he would like to get more youth involved in the local.

"I think what we'll be doing is utilizing many of the Native youth around here who are not in school (and) living off the streets."

Atkinson, who was born and raised in the Cromdale area, believes by giving young people tasks to perform for the local, like coaching sports or collecting information on existing programs, they will gain a sense of achievement and feel better about themselves.

Blyan is aware local members have their work cut out for them in an area of the city which has high welfare dependency, drug and alcohol related problems and unemployment.

"It (solutions to problems) is not going to be done overnight. But I think it can be done over a period of time.

"I can't be too specific in what we want to doI don't want to say to anybody we need this and that. I think we'll identify the needs as we go along."

But he would like to generate more public awareness about concerns in the area and already, as interim president, he has met officials such as city alderman Julian Kiniski and New Democrat leader Ray Martin.

The new executive of the local will hold its first meeting at the end of "April to address issues of concern in the area.

The remaining executive members who also won by acclamation are: Robert Prince (secretary), Norbert Andrews (treasurer), and board members, Gladys Prince, Beverly Whitford and Bill Doherty.