FSIN has become a ‘runaway train,’ says Sask. chief
SASKATOON Two chiefs of Saskatchewan First Nations are expressing frustration with the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, saying internal politics have distracted from its primary purpose — protecting treaty rights and advocating for its members.
In separate interviews, Pasqua First Nation Chief Matthew Peigan and Sakimay First Nation Chief Lynn Acoose also questioned the federation’s decision to, in their view, break from legislation and precedent when determining leadership during an election period.
After three days of internal conflict over who would serve as interim chief over the next month, the federation late Wednesday afternoon announced it would not appoint an interim chief and instead continue under executive operating officer Dawn Walker.
“I believe it’s consumed with internal politics and trying to satisfy the internal goings-on rather than focusing on the bigger issues,” Peigan said, adding that he believes other chiefs and councillors across the province share his views but are worried about speaking out.
Acoose said she has long been frustrated with the federation — which she described as a “runaway train” — and believes ongoing internal conflict has rendered it “ineffective in terms of focusing on the real needs of our communities.”
“We say that we believe in our own traditional laws and our own system of values as Indigenous people — and I think we’ve strayed so far from that,” Acoose said, echoing earlier comments by others.
In an open letter, FSIN youth representatives Darian Lonechild and Rollin Baldhead said it was “unacceptable” that Saskatoon police were called to mediate an internal dispute on Monday and urged the FSIN’S executives to “come together.”
The FSIN is preparing to elect a new chief, first vice-chief and third vice-chief on Oct. 25. Under its legislation, any current executive member seeking re-election was required to step down no later than 12 p.m. on Monday., the beginning of the 30-day campaign.
Moments before that deadline, First Vice-chief Kim Jonathan sent an email to FSIN staff and multiple chiefs stating that she was not planning to stand for reelection and would therefore assume the duties of interim chief until her term expired.
The FSIN’S Executive Act states that the first vice-chief shall assume the role of interim chief if the chief ’s position becomes vacant. Multiple people, including Peigan and Acoose, have said that is the precedent in cases where the first vice-chief isn’t running.
The federation took a different view; citing a separate section of the same act stating that duties shall be assigned during the 30day campaign to another executive “whose position is not open for election,” it appointed fourth vice-chief Heather Bear as interim chief. Police have said they were called that afternoon to “keep the peace” in an internal dispute.
Jonathan has maintained that the federation’s legislation was “disregarded,” and that both precedent and law indicate that she should serve as interim chief during the campaign — a point echoed on Wednesday by both Peigan and Acoose.
“I’m standing firm in legislation,” said Jonathan, who reported being locked out of her FSIN email account on Monday afternoon.
On Tuesday, the federation called an emergency meeting of the Indian Government Commission, which is charged with overseeing and enforcing its legislation, and executive council for 1 p.m. Wednesday to resolve the legislative standoff between Jonathan and Bear. In a news release, the federation effectively rescinded Bear’s appointment and said Walker will oversee operations until either Bobby Cameron or Delbert Wapass is elected to the top job next month.