Alexander elected as Roseau River chief

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This article was published 12/03/2017 (2601 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Tension surrounding a court-appointed electoral officer sent Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation band members to the polls twice in four days, first on Thursday and again on Sunday.

Political newcomer Craig Alexander was elected chief in Sunday’s vote and replaces Chief Alfred Hayden, who did not run for reelection. June Thomas, Rachel Ferreira, Keith Henry and Zongiday Nelson were elected councillors. A total of 517 votes were cast in the election.

The second election date was the result of a series of recent judicial reviews. On Mar. 7, two days before Thursday’s election, federal court Judge Rene LeBlanc appointed Burke Ratte, an electoral officer from Peguis First Nation, to oversee Roseau River’s election. In doing so, LeBlanc overturned part of a Feb. 10 decision by federal court Judge Luc Martineau that named Lois Thomas as Roseau’s electoral officer.

Hayden, Nelson and Robert Henry were named as applicants in both decisions.

Ratte said he was unable to enter the polling station at the Niichi Oasis Gaming Centre on Thursday when he arrived to carry out his electoral duties.

“I was physically prevented by entering the building by band members and a member of the custom council,” Ratte said.

Dakota Ojibway Police Service officers provided security at the polling station throughout Sunday’s election, which Ratte said proceeded smoothly and peacefully with only a few negative comments.

See more coverage of Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation’s elections in Thursday’s issue of The Carillon.