Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation (PBCN) members will soon be going to the polls to elect councillors, elder council members and a new chief.
Six people have stepped forward for the chief’s position, which will be up for grabs - after more than 30 years in public life, current PBCN Chief Peter Beatty announced he would not be running for reelection to the seat last month. Beatty has served as chief since 2013.
Karen Bird from Southend has run for chief in PBCN’s last two elections, losing each time to Beatty but finishing second in the vote in 2015. A pair of previous band council members - Simon Jobb from Sandy Bay and Weldon McCallum from Pelican Narrows - are also running for chief, along with Roland Natewayes and Horace “Cha Choo” Morin. Jason R. G. Linklater from Prince Albert is also listed as a candidate - he, along with Bird, unsuccessfully ran against Beatty in 2018.
Four candidates have stepped forward for the one Amisk Lake/Denare Beach councillor spot. Incumbent Marvin “Chuck” Morin will face Lionel Edgar Gardiner, Kevin Sewap and former Denare Beach/Amisk Lake councillor Clayton Sewap in the race for the seat.
For the PBCN elders council, Darlene Watson and James V. Sewap are running for the elder council seat for Amisk Lake/Denare Beach. For some communities, elders council seats have already been decided by acclamation - Deschambault Lake will be represented by Arthur Beatty and Frank Robillard, while Robert McCallum and Derek Custer will serve for Pelican Narrows. Seats are still up for grabs in five other PBCN communities
A full list of the candidates for all PBCN communities, including candidates for the PBCN elder council, can be found below.
Advance polls are scheduled to take place April 8 at 10 separate locations across PBCN, including at the Amisk Lake band office, Wapawikoscikan School, Sandy Bay band office and at Kimosom Pwatinahk Collegiate. These polls are scheduled to take place from 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Election day itself is scheduled for April 13, with voting open from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. at seven separate areas - the Wapawikoscikan School, the Senator Allan Bird Memorial Centre in Prince Albert, the Amisk Lake band office, Sturgeon Landing school and at band offices in Southend, Sandy Bay and Deschambault Lake. All venues are subject to change.
According to PBCN, all election sites will feature COVID-19 protocols in place for all nomination meetings, advanced polls and for election day. Election activities, including the vote itself, may also be postponed due to COVID-19. Several PBCN communities have been hit hard by COVID-19, including Pelican Narrows. Case numbers are declining but 19 cases remain active in Pelican Narrows as of April 1.
“All COVID-19 protocols will be in place for the nomination meetings, advance polls and election day polls. Any candidate or elector in attendance will be required to comply with all COVID-19 safety precautions,” reads a statement issued Feb. 28 by PBCN electoral officer Burke Ratte.
“If necessary, the election may be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Further updates will be provided.”
As of press time, no further information had been released regarding schedules or possible delays.
PBCN candidates list
Candidates for Chief
Karen Bird
Simon Daniel Jobb
Roland Eric Natewayes
Horace “Cha Choo” Morin
Weldon McCallum
Jason R.G. Linklater
Council candidates
Amisk Lake/Denare Beach (one seat)
Lionel Edgar Gardiner
Clayton C. Sewap
Marvin H. “Chuck” Morin
Kevin Sewap
Deschambault Lake (two seats)
Walter Ballantyne
Peter R. Beatty
Trevor G. Ballantyne
Tabitha Eninew
Angelique Sewap
Roy Eninew
Della Ballantyne
Alena Custer
Payton Ballantyne
Prince Albert urban (one seat)
Tommy K. Clarke
Clarisse “La La” Lecoq
Dwight McCallum
Clifford B. Ray
Pelican Narrows (five seats)
Glenda Merasty
Ovide Michel
Frances Highway
Alphonse Dorion
Arnold Dorion
Myrtle Ballantyne
Simon Cook Jr.
Harold Linklater
Suzzette H. Sewap
Eileen Linklater
Valerie Morin
Vernon Dorion
Emil McCallum
Marcella Bloomfield
Calvin McCallum
Ronald Michelle
Thomas Linklater Jr.
Clarence Linklater
Curtis J. Michel
Elizabeth Michel
Keith McCallum
Sarah Swan
Karen Jame McCallum
Sheldon Dorion
Wayne Ballantyne
Jason C. Morin
Sturgeon Landing (one seat)
Doreen Rose Sinclair
Richard Budd
Allan Michel
Sandy Bay (two seats)
John A. Daylight
Nora Bear
Timothy William Underwood
Marcelline Bernice Charlette
April Castel
Harry A. Morin
Harvey Norman Natewayes
Southend (two seats)
Tommy Bird
Moses Bird
Nelson Morin
Darren Morin
Kevin Morin
Elder council
Amisk Lake/Denare Beach (one seat)
Darlene watson
James V. Sewap
Deschambault Lake (two seats, both elected)
Arthur Beatty
Frank Robillard
Prince Albert urban (two seats)
Maurice Patrick Bear
Margaret Michel
Dennis W. Morin
Maurice Richards
Pelican Narrows (two seats, both elected)
Robert McCallum
Derek Custer
Sandy Bay (two seats)
Robert R. Ray
Evelyn Margaret McDonald
Myrtle Morin
Myrtle Ray
Tracy Randolph Merasty
Daniel Marcel Bear
Veronica Caribou
Sturgeon Landing (one seat)
Margaret Michel
Jenny Gamache
Southend (two seats)
Alphanie Clarke
Florence Clarke
Dennis Cook
George Philip Clarke
