Glen McCallum re-elected as Métis Nation—Saskatchewan president, according to preliminary results

According to unofficial results posted on the Métis Nation—Saskatchewan website, Glen McCallum has been re-elected as president of the federally-recognized government.

"This is exciting because we see good governance in action," Kurtis Boyer, a University of Saskatchewan assistant professor and the research chair in Métis governance and policy at the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, said in an interview Sunday. 

"The election is an expression of our self-determination. And the voices of our citizens are clear that they have confidence in the direction of how this government is being built and the direction towards self-government," Boyer said. 

Métis citizens across the province went to the polls on Saturday to vote for four executive leaders and 12 regional director positions that make up the Provincial Métis Council. 

"The margin by which he was elected compared to the 2021 outcome is greater. So I think that's representative of a greater confidence in his leadership style," Boyer said.

According to the preliminary results, McCallum is in the lead by 526 votes. Aside from the incumbent, there were four other candidates running for president: Naz Chalifoux, Kevin Henry, Bonnie Grace Marwood, and Lisa McCallum.

Nearly 28,000 people were eligible to vote in this election, up from about 16,000 in the 2021 election, according to the MN-S chief electoral officer.

Boyer said that McCallum has been focused on post-secondary education, investing in the youth, and advancing conversations and partnerships with provincial and federal governments. 

As for the race for vice-president, the voting seems too close to call as of Sunday morning. Michelle LeClair holds a lead of about 82 votes according to the MN-S website. 

Another tight race is unfolding in Eastern Region 2, which includes the Melfort, Wynyard area where just two votes separate the candidates as of Sunday morning. 

Boyer said that recounts are indicative of a meticulous election process.

"I think this speaks to the efficiency and the form of our electoral process and the great job that the electoral offices have done in managing this election," he said. 

Confidence and new energy

He said that while seven out of 12 regions have returning incumbents, which shows confidence in the leadership, there are also some new faces bringing new energy and a new way of thinking. 

Boyer said that one of the big tasks for the new MN-S administration is negotiating a modern treaty and self-government agreement with Ottawa, a process that began several years ago with a goal of finishing this year.

"The incoming council has a broader, younger, and more representative mandate and I think that's something that will help them press Ottawa for self-government, given the fact that our citizens are engaging with this democratic process," he said. 

Boyer said the one thing the new government will have to work on is working together. 

"Coming together, for our leaders to be able to work together, is going to be absolutely vital for us to be able to pursue and achieve self-government and negotiate properly with the federal government," he said. 

CBC was at the polling station in Saskatoon on Saturday, where Alicia Roth was exercising her right to vote, making sure her voice was heard. 

"I think it's important for young people to get our opinions out there and our voices out there because I feel like it really matters because we're kind of the next generation voice of change," Roth said.

"I feel like it's important that we need to be out there, showing our support for people who align with us."

Another voter, Ryan McDougall, was voting to support a friend who was running in the election. But he also wanted to make sure issues that matter to him were represented. 

"For me personally, I want to see some more rights being given to us, and my children who use the education system to their benefit, and for it to be a little more freely used," said McDougall.