SASKATOON — Bobby Cameron hopes his past won’t be the central issue as he seeks his fourth term as chief in next month’s Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) election, set for Oct. 31.
The 74 member nations will also choose the first and third vice chiefs.
Cameron, first elected as FSIN chief in 2015, announced his re-election bid on Sept. 20 at the Saskatoon Inn, along with First Vice Chief David Pratt, who is also seeking to retain his post, carrying the health and social development portfolio. FSIN executive members serve three-year terms.
When asked about his criminal record, Cameron said the credentials committee has allowed him to run since he first sought a position on the FSIN executive over a decade ago. In 1993, Cameron was convicted of break-and-enter and theft.
“Since 2011, when I first ran, this is the first time I've answered this question, so I'm glad you asked. I never dodged or ran; I thought things like this were petty because every credentials committee has allowed me to continue running. There's a clause: you are ineligible if you've been criminally charged five years before an election. This happened over 30 years ago,” Cameron told reporters.
“I submitted my documents, and the credentials committee will meet, I'm assuming Oct. 1, because that's when we leave office, and they'll decide. I've disclosed everything since 2011 when I first became vice-chief.
"We hope you're covering more than just that criminal past. That's what I request from every one of you. It's good you're asking these questions, but cover some good stuff, too.”
He added that despite never being pardoned for the crimes he committed 31 years ago, he is now seeking a pardon; however, he emphasized that his accomplishments while serving as FSIN chief should be the focus of this election.
“We're treaty members of a strong treaty organization, founded by the late John Tootoosis and many others who have contributed to a proud organization. If I felt that we weren't qualified or eligible to be here, we wouldn't even run. So, we firmly believe that this treaty organization is still as powerful as ever and will continue to be. My greatest accomplishment by far is making and keeping lifelong friendships. Of course, we're also proud that we continue to feed and clothe many homeless people,” said Cameron.
“Our heart and mind [are] in the right place to serve you under the FSIN, the strongest treaty Indian organization in Canada. As the current FSIN chief, I believe our inherent treaty rights are powerful. Our sacred pipe ceremony symbolizes them. They're so powerful that they trump federal and provincial laws. Our treaties are of international law with the British Crown. This is our focus. This is our priority. This will always be who we are and what we do as Treaty Indian people.”
He said another accomplishment they achieved through negotiations with the federal government is the increase in the compensation payout for Indigenous children who suffered under the provincial government’s child welfare system.
“The federal government came to us and said, ‘Here's $5 billion for your children.’ Our organization's executives said, ‘Forget it, because our children deserve more than that.’ We fought tooth and nail for years to get this $47.8 billion. That's why you elect individuals to these positions: to be that voice, to speak up, and never back down when going into meetings with federal and provincial governments. You elect us to do the lobbying and political efforts, and we've done some excellent work in the past 13 years.”
Pratt said he’s honoured to have served their people under the FSIN for the past seven years under Cameron’s leadership and guidance.
“I would not continue to serve at the federation if I did not have a good chief to work with, if I did not have a chief that supported me in my work, if I did not have a chief that encouraged me in my work and helped mentor me. And I acknowledge Chief Cameron, and I especially acknowledge him for living a drug- and alcohol-free lifestyle,” said Pratt.
