The leadership at the Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC) is back to full strength. That’s because, last week, Norma Catarat – the current chief of Buffalo River Dene Nation – was elected as the new MLTC Dene vice-chief during the tribal council’s election assembly held at Dakota Dunes Resort near Saskatoon. Catarat received 28 votes to fellow candidate Brian Morin’s 17. Declaration day was Oct. 20 and the vote took place Nov. 20.
“This decision was tough to make, but I love to help people succeed in life, no matter who they are,” Catarat remarked. “The elders who are here, I am asking you, if I ever step out of the line and lose that vision we have for the tribal council, you tell me.” Catarat replaces former Dene vice-chief Lawrence McIntyre of English River First Nation who passed away this past summer.
“We’re all very sad vice-chief McIntyre left us far too early, but of course we have to move on,” stated MLTC Cree vice-chief Richard Derocher during an interview conducted prior to the election assembly. “We dearly miss vice-chief McIntyre, the strengths he had and the eldership he brought to the leadership at MLTC.”
This was echoed by Catarat following her victory last week. “I’ve got big shoes to fill,” she said. “The person who had the spot before me was a very humble man. He respected everyone and anyone he saw, he never looked down on anyone.”
Meanwhile, because Catarat has now taken on the role of Dene vice-chief, it means she must step down as chief of BRDN. Dallas Billette will serve as acting chief of Buffalo River Dene Nation until an election can be held in February. As for the election assembly itself, proceedings began last Monday (Nov. 18) and, before the Dene vice-chief vote capped things off, several issues were discussed by representatives of all nine MLTC First Nation. Leading the charge was newly acclaimed MLTC chief Jeremy Norman.
“I’ve been part of Flying Dust First Nation chief and council for 12 years and I know the concerns leaders face,” Norman said while addressing those in attendance. “First of all, we need to make money and, second of all, we need to employ our people. Strong people, make strong families, make strong communities.” Attending the event remotely was Assembly of First Nations national chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak who updated delegates on the work the AFN is doing including files on policing, homelessness, child welfare and education. As noted, the assembly concluded with the Dene vice-chief election last Wednesday