Mayor Julie Baschuk said the village broke new ground in 2021. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Year in Review

Progress in reconciliation made by Air Ronge council in 2021

Dec 27, 2021 | 12:00 PM

Reconciliation was a major focus for Air Ronge council in 2021.

In last 12 months, the village council set out to create stronger partnerships with not only the Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB), but everyone within the tri-communities. Now at every council meeting, a Treaty 6 land acknowledge is made and Tom Roberts has been attending since July as council’s Elder advisor.

His role is to provide knowledge, insight and historical context, as well as advice on topics that come across the council table.

“I think it is a huge accomplishment for our community being the only community within the Province of Saskatchewan in regards to a municipality to do so and have an active Elder around our table to contribute inside wisdom or feedback,” Mayor Julie Baschuk said.

Air Ronge, La Ronge and the LLRIB also came together this summer to cancel Canada Day events in favour of honouring National Indigenous Peoples Day. The decision came after the discovery of children’s unmarked remains at Kamloops B.C., Manitoba and Saskatchewan Indian Residential School sites.

Seniors Scene

Christmas is Coming

12h ago

Grey Cup!!!

Everything you wanted and more

Nov 21, 2025

12 Best Tips to Spend Less at Christmas

Nov 18, 2025

In the spirit of truth and reconciliation, Air Ronge council also decided to stop any further redevelopment of Heritage Park along the Montreal River. Baschuk noted a meeting about the land was held with the LLRIB and it was learned members of the Sanderson family lived in the area before being relocated and there once was a trapline belonging to the Vander-Kracht family along the trail.

“Our goal with that it to get official designation of it being a heritage park and paying respect to the original families,” she said. “The plan would be moving forward is to have some signage, with the family’s permission, to give some historical context, maybe photographs, of what the original living quarters were like. Really just to let people know that it still is a public space, but to pay respect to what it once was before.”

Air Ronge spent a considerable amount of time going through village bylaws to make sure they are current, necessary, or if anything needed to be amended or revoked. A Saskatoon-based company was also hired to assist with strategic planning and that work will be done by the summer. Baschuk said it will include plans for one year to 20 years from now.

Work also continues to finalize an official community plan and zoning bylaw, and the launch of a new website. Although no funding has been announced, consultation meetings have also been held with the Ministry of Highways for a Highway 2 and 102 corridor, bridge and pedestrian walkway expansions.

The village will also soon hire an account clerk to allow the other two office staff to focus on new tasks.

“With an ambitious council comes a lot of new projects and planning, so one of the big things we noted was the capacity of our staff,” Baschuk said. “We’ve always had two office staff, so a big thing was looking at the mill rates this past tax season and doing a slight increase.”

Baschuk also wanted to leave tri-community residents with a holiday message.

“We hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season,” she said. “If folks are travelling, stay safe and remember all of the COVID precautions and lets continue to keep our communities as healthy as we can. All the best in 2022.”

–

derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno