Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand re-elected for 3rd term

Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) Chief Mark Arcand will serve a third four-year term after being re-elected Thursday.

"It's continuing the same work. Homelessness is a big issue, poverty, all the underfunding that goes in our communities. We need the advocacy to build our communities up through capacity building to strengthen our communities," Arcand said at a news conference Thursday afternoon.

"We have a lot of addiction crises in our communities and our urban settings. We've got to really work on getting people into programming."

An Indigenous treatment centre to help people change their lives is "high on the priorities list," Arcand said.

Seventy-five votes were cast from the seven First Nations within the Saskatoon Tribal Council. Of those, 40 went to Arcand and 35 went to Robert Daniels of Mistawasis Nehiyawak, who has served as CEO of Misty Ventures since 2016.

Arcand said existing partnerships between the Saskatoon Tribal Council, the City of Saskatoon and the province need to be enhanced.

Arcand supports Gordan Wyant

When asked about a new city council being elected next month, Arcand said he is "nervous," worrying the STC's voice might not be heard. 

"I'm tired of the paternalistic attitudes. I'm tired of the colonial attitudes. People need to listen to what's best for our First Nations people," he said.

WATCH | STC chief says proposed downtown Saskatoon shelter will 'look like a jail':

STC chief says proposed downtown Saskatoon shelter will 'look like a jail'

2 months ago

Duration 2:06

Chief Mark Arcand told reporters Tuesday morning that he disagrees with the city's plan to put up a chain link fence around the facility.

Commenting on the mayoral candidates, Arcand said "a change" is needed. He said he is supporting Gordon Wyant in the civic election.

"Gordon Wyant is going to do a great job if he gets to be elected," he said.

"We've got to make changes, because when I look at the city being $50 million in debt and it falls on the taxpayers, it's leadership that has to take that responsibility."

He said he has talked to Wyant and that they are in agreement that the STC's Fairhaven shelter should be moved, but to a proper location. 

No talk about homelessness on provincial campaign trail: Arcand

Arcand said he is concerned about increasing homelessness in the city, particularly a lack of a warming shelter as the weather starts to get cold.

He said the issue of homelessness is missing on the provincial campaign trail.

"I'm really concerned about the election right now for the province, because no candidate has put homelessness as a top priority," he said.

"It's just as important as education, housing, it's important as the health-care system. We need proper investments as service providers to help people get the proper service."

Arcand said he has never supported safe consumption sites and wants the goal to be, "get people off addictions." 

He said homeless people are ending up in the hospital and justice systems.

"We need the government, whatever it is, to actually make these announcements. When are we going to start talking about homelessness?"