More than 1,000 delegates from 74 Saskatchewan First Nations voted for the status quo at the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Peoples (FSIN) General meeting Thursday in Saskatoon. Outgoing leader Bobby Cameron defeated former third vice leader Aly Bear to remain at the helm of the organization. This is his fourth term as leader.

Part of Cameron’s message after winning was aimed at young people around the drug and alcohol crisis.

“We are getting to the point where 100 percent of our First Nations will one day conquer this demon of alcohol and drugs. One day,” Cameron said.

“This is what our ancestors wanted, what our people have wanted for decades and decades and decades.”

Cameron did not say whether he had a plan to achieve this or how the FSIN would be involved.

David Pratt successfully defended his seat as First Vice-Chief and former Chief of the Red Earth Cree Nation, Fabian Head joins the executive for the first time as Third Vice-Chief. Cameron received 765 votes to Bear’s 258.

Pratt won a resounding victory with 649 votes to 125 for his closest challenger, Jocelyn Campbell Chaplin. Fabian Head also received 507 votes, with the rest going to a handful of challengers.

None of the winning leaders have spoken to the media about the problems facing the organization.

It was an election full of controversy, much like the FSIN itself this year.

None of the successful leaders have spoken to the media about the myriad problems facing the organization, including a forensic audit launched against him by Indigenous Services Canada.

Cameron, who has served three consecutive terms, has been dogged by accusations that he should not even be eligible for election because of a prior criminal conviction. Cameron was convicted of breaking and entering and theft in 1993. He did not address that issue in his brief speech Thursday.

After the vote, but before the vote count, leaflets bearing Aly Bear’s image were found on vehicles near the convention center with derogatory statements about the former member of the executive branch. . In his acceptance speech, Cameron acknowledged the difficult campaign.

“We denounce any political attack of any nature whatsoever. We are totally opposed to this way of proceeding. We always wanted to run a clean campaign, a kind campaign,” Cameron told his supporters.

Each candidate, winner or loser, had two minutes to speak after the results were revealed. However, a defeated Bear left the convention after the votes were counted and did not take the opportunity to address the crowd.

The FSIN was also criticized during the election campaign for its lack of accountability and transparency. One example occurred after the swearing-in: None of the winning executive members made themselves available for questions from reporters.

Whatever the outcome, leadership will move forward in a sort of shadow. In March, Indigenous Services Canada announced plans to conduct a forensic audit of the FSIN’s finances. The investigation is expected to cover a five-year period from 2019. No timetable was given for when the audit would be completed.