Sherry McLennan was re-elected in 2021 in a landslide victory. (Facebook)

By Nigel Maxwell

Metis election

McLennan seeks third term as WR2 Regional Director

May 6, 2025 | 3:00 PM

Stating she has some unfinished business, Prince Albert’s Sherry McLennan is seeking a third term as regional director of Métis Nation-Saskatchewan Western Region II.

Noting how she works for the locals, she said one of her goals is making sure the local presidents receive compensation. They currently do not paid for the work they do which includes securing funding for programs such as early childhood or land-based education.

“I just feel they should have some capacity and a little bit of money to show they are worth something and that their time is worth something,” she said.

Born and raised in Prince Albert, McLennan said one of her team’s proudest accomplishments was the opening of their building at Central Avenue and Marquis Road, which acts as a gathering place for all Métis citizens, regardless of where they come from.

The building has also been used for funerals, weddings, and as a meeting place for local community groups.

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Noting her concern that should one of her opponents get elected and close the building, and all focus be placed on the soon to be constructed Ma Faamii building, McLennan said it would cause substantial hardships for seniors and community groups.

She also noted the building on Central Avenue, is locally run and has provided a place for people to get help accessing programming and filling out forms related to housing, education and health.

Traditionally these programs are run out of the provincial head office in Saskatoon. That’s why another one of McLennan’s priorities is decentralization.

“In the urban centres we need to bring programming back because 80 per cent of our people don’t belong to locals and dont want to belong to locals,” she said.

“They just want a neutral place where they come and feel like they belong and be able to take programs and feel like they are a part of something.”

McLennan’s rocky relationship with the current provincial leadership has been very public and she explained she stands by the fact as an elected leader, her responsibility is to speak up for the grass roots people who she claims have received crumbs, while all the money appears to benefit those at the top and their friends.

“The people that question them are put on the sidelines,” she said.

McLennan also stated leadership means being accountable to the people and getting the grassroots people involved. She added it’s not a top down process.

“We don’t build a house starting at the top. We start building a foundation from the bottom with our grassroots people,” she said.

The MN-S election is on May 24. Also running for regional director are Lynn Regnier and Shawn Parenteau.

There are five candidates running for MN-S President: Kevin Henry, Bonnie Marwood, Glen McCallum, Lisa McCallum and Naz Chalifou.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Blue Sky: @nigelmaxwell.bsky.social