Category: uncategorized

To: Membership, Beardy’s & Okemasis’ Cree Nation

From: Chief Electoral Officer, Loretta Pete Lambert, Councillor Leighanne Gardipy, Councillor Tyrone Smallchild

Date: March 24, 2020

Re: 2020 BOCN General Election

On Wednesday, March 18, 2020 Council met in a final meeting to assess elections. The Council decided it would be in the best interest of the Nation to proceed with nominations and elections with strict precautions in place (see notice here – 2020 BOCN Nominations & Election Precautionary Measures: COVID-19)

Ensuring that a governing body is in place for the Nation is crucial, if the election does not occur on March 27, 2020, this will create a governance gap and the Nation will not have a government. The election will continue to move forward as previously motioned by Council, with precautionary measures and guidance from a professional health authority.

Communications have been coordinated between the Chief Electoral Officer and professional health authority staff. The Regional Director of Primary Health Care and Public Health provided a guidance document to the Chief Electoral Officer to utilize for our election.

These are unprecedented times, for all of us. Please keep in mind the critical aspects of having a government in place for our Nation:

• will ensure a line of communication between our Nation and the Provincial and Federal governments;
• will advocate and negotiate as a governing authority for our Nation.

Please also keep in mind that due to the newness of the COVID-19 virus, health authorities could not comment with certainty on whether the risk would decrease or increase shoud elections occur in 30-60 days.

Election Polls
Date: Friday, March 27, 2020
9:00am to 6:00pm

On-Reserve Poll:

Veterans Hall, Beardy’s & Okemasis’ Cree Nation

Off-Reserve Poll:

Quality Inn (Sedona Room), 1715 Idylwyld Drive, Saskatoon, SK

*PLEASE RESPECT HEALTH AND SAFETY DIRECTIONS OF ELECTION STAFF INCLUDING SECURITY*

<<ORIGINAL SIGNED BY>>

Chief Electoral Officer, Loretta Pete Lambert

Councillor Leighanne Gardipy

Councillor Tyrone Smallchild

*View the original, signed document here.

Emergency Preparedness Week at the Beardy’s & Okemasis’ Cree Nation is an opportunity for members to learn about the processes in place to Mitigate, Prepare for, Respond to, and Recover from an Emergency or Disaster scenario in our community.

Our Emergency Management Team works to continually update plans, identify resources, and educate community members on the importance of being prepared.

The 2020 Emergency Preparedness Week activities include:

1. Wednesday, March 4, 2020
   1. Tornado Hunters School Presentation – Grades 9-12, CRCEC, 1pm
   2. Tornado Siren Test – 3:15pm (if you hear it, or don’t, please call the Band Office 306-467-4523 with your house #)
   3. Tornado Hunters Supper & Community Presentation, Veterans Hall, 5pm

1. Thursday, March 5, 2020
   1. “Fire Safe” Elementary School Presentations with “Marshall” the Fire Pup from Paw Patrol, Grades K – 4, CBMES, 9am
   2. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Community Update & Lunch, Veterans Hall, 11am
   3. Emergency Management Expo, Veterans Hall, 1pm
   4. Community Supper & Information Session, 5pm, Veterans Hall
   5. “Be Prepared” – Canadian Red Cross Presentation, Veterans Hall
   6. “Climate Change & ‘YOU’th”, FSIN Princess, Elilah Napachit, BOCN Sr. Princess, Anika Mitsuing, BOCN Sr. Warrior, Jericho Constant, Veterans Hall
   7. STARS Air Ambulance Presentation, Veterans Hall
2. Friday, March 6, 2020
   1. Basic Emergency Management (BEM) Course, Veterans Hall, 9am
   2. Introduction to Search and Rescue (SAR) Course, Veterans Hall, 9am

Tansi!

The 2020 FSIN Two Spirit Gathering will take place on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 through till Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at TCU Place in Saskatoon.

BOCN Youth identifying as Two Spirit who wish to attend can register using the form below. A cap on participants may be imposed dependent on interest.

Chaperones will be attending to supervise participants. Transportation will be provided. Additional details will be provided to confirmed registrants.