LAKELAND - The election for the first-ever Otipemisiwak (Michif for ‘coming together’) Métis Government is set to take place from Sept. 13-19, and three candidates from the Lac La Biche region have been competing to become the Citizens’ Representative for District 19 of the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA).
Throughout the month of August, Jerry Ladouceur, Dwayne Roth, and Jason Ekeberg have been busy campaigning in the Lac La Biche area.
Ladouceur
Ladouceur was born and raised in the Lac La Biche area and serves as a director for the Red Wolf Corporation and Koi Water Group Ltd. He has been focusing on several issues during his campaign, including improved access to services for seniors, maintaining and promoting Métis culture, as well as stronger economic development.
“Every day, I see the struggles faced by seniors in our community who, due to rising costs for many basic necessities, are having great difficulty getting by,” Ladouceur stated. “This could be medicine, new glasses, or transportation to a doctor’s appointment. Seniors will not be left behind on my watch, as they deserve respect and help.”
Ladouceur confirmed that if he is elected to represent District 19, he will bring in more programs to enable Métis youth to better connect with their heritage.
“I intend to work with organizations such as Portage College and the Native Friendship Center to provide cultural programming such as canning meat, berries, and fish, beadmaking seminars, ribbon skirt and Bannock making, as well as Cree language and jigging classes,” he explained. “I would also like to bring elders in to speak with our youth to share information and tell stories before they are lost forever.”
Another component of Ladouceur’s platform focuses on addressing the issue of affordable housing, which he believes has greatly affected Métis communities. He said he will ensure that his constituents are able to remain in their homes, but also are able to receive funding for home repairs and maintenance.
“Owning a home is not easy nowadays. Many of our community members are renting, and it feels as though rent prices, along with bills for heat and rent, continue to climb,” he said.
Ladouceur continued by saying that industrial consultation with Métis communities will go a long way in helping with economic development.
“Over the past 30 years, I have built strong relationships with various businesses in northern Alberta,” he said. “I have noticed that our Métis communities benefit greatly by having the opportunity to network with outside companies. I will work closely with industry leaders to ensure that our community not only has a seat at the table but plays in integral role in shaping their own economies.”
Roth
If elected, Dwayne Roth, a lawyer, says he will focus on enhancing existing Métis programs and services while also focusing on employment and training supports, as well as elder housing.
“I am also committed to setting up Métis Child and Family Services office in our community to ensure that vulnerable children in care are placed with Métis families,” he said.
Regarding economic development, Roth said that he has a goal of setting up a community owned development corporation whose purpose will be to negotiate with the energy sector. This will include equity investments in projects with support from the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation.
“I was previously involved with Project Rocket - the $1.2B Enbridge pipeline purchased by 23 First Nations and Métis communities last year,” Roth explained. “Sadly, the Métis of Lac La Biche were left out of that deal. We need to make sure we are involved in future projects so that the Métis benefit from resource extraction and the impacts on our ability to practice traditional activities.”
Other plans in Roth’s platform include building or purchasing a community hall with a laydown yard for cultural and ceremonial events, as well as establishing a Lac La Biche Métis School District.
“The plan is to have a Métis-run school right here in the community with our own traditional curriculum, including Michif language, hunting, trapping, and traditional life skills in addition to the basic three R’s,” he said.
While it has certainly been challenging, Roth says his campaign has been going very well.
“People are struggling in this economy with recent cost of living increases, and they want real change,” he said. “We have an opportunity to build something much better... under the new Otipemsiwak Métis Government.”
Ekeberg
Jason Ekeberg, who has served as vice-president for the Métis Nation of Alberta Region 1 since 2018, said the focus of his election campaign has not only been on his community, but ensuring the voices of Métis people are heard by the provincial government also.
“My family has travelled, harvested, and worked on his land for over 100 years,” he said. “Lac La Biche is not just our home, it’s generations of people who I am proud to call my family, and together, we have created deep roots in our amazing community.
Ekeberg, in addition to operating a farm and maintaining a trapline, has also been very active in the Lac La Biche Mission Historical Site for several years and has been involved in other initiatives such as the Belcourt Fish Fry, establishing a camp for homeless people, as well as safe shelters that provide day programs.
He believes the election is not only about the candidates who run, but the Métis people themselves.
“It’s all about ensuring that we have viable solutions to housing, employment, and healthcare as well as access to services,” he said. “Furthermore, this is about our youth, seniors and respecting the land, our traditional ways and embracing our new rights. If re-elected, I will continue to uphold my work in our district and at the provincial level.”
Ekeberg said that Métis people have been striving toward self-government for generations and after much hard work, the dream is finally becoming a reality.
“During my campaign, I have received overwhelming support from the community and my family, for which I am ever grateful,” he said. “If elected for our new Otipemisiwak Métis Government for District 19, I will ensure my office is ready to bring people new information on our government, hear and action concerns for the community, and continue to uphold our traditional values.”
The Métis Nation of Alberta general election for an inaugural Otipemisiwak Métis Government takes place from Sept. 13-19. Citizens of the Métis Nation can cast their ballots through mail-in voting, in person, or electronically.
