Laura Burnouf ran uncontested for regional director in the upcoming MNS general election. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

general election

Burnouf claims MNS regional director chair for four more years

May 12, 2025 | 2:30 PM

Laura Burnouf, who is currently the director for Métis Nation—Saskatchewan’s (MNS) Northern Region 1, will serve a second term in office.

That’s because she was the only candidate to put her name forward in this region ahead of the MNS general election scheduled for May 24. Burnouf wants to continue to be a Métis voice and presence in the area because she believes the current situation is still a long way off from where it should be.

“There was still lots of things to do in the region to uplift it and lift up the Métis people in terms of economic development, housing, and different programming,” she said, noting she doesn’t know why no one else decided to run for director in the region.

“I encouraged others, especially the younger ones to put in their nominations papers as well, but I don’t know why some people didn’t try. People were telling me they had trust in me and I could bring it up a little bit further.”

In the last four years, Burnouf has been part of the Provincial Métis Council which meets once per month, as well as works with the Regional Métis Council, which meets four times per year and provides her with direction. The regional council includes to presidents of Métis Locals in Candle Lake, La Ronge, Stony Rapids, Uranium City, and Weyakwin/Timber Bay.

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Burnouf has worked in the creation of resource development library and a traditional land-based mapping system. The map is used to show companies and stakeholders in the region the areas in which Métis citizens are active.

“We did a land-based traditional mapping … a couple of years ago when Lazar Lafleur was the [Jim Brady] president then. He really pushed for mapping in land-based here because that would help us in negotiating and telling the resources, mining and timber corporations to say this is somebody’s land and we need to protect it,” she remarked.

“Right now, we are working Denison Mines Corp. trying to get negotiations together, so we can have more funds and capacity for the economic development, for example, and resources for Northern Region 1. We are working with Northern Region 3, so that’s going along well, but we had to stop. I’ll be continuing to work on that.”

Burnouf was named the Minister of Languages with MNS and that involved a trip to Ottawa to lobby for funding. A couple of years ago, there was only one person advancing languages through MNS and now there are 12 employees doing so across the province.

With the opening of a regional office at La Ronge’s Kikinahk Friendship Centre, Burnouf has been able to meet more people and create partnerships. Jim Searson also works out of the space as a Ma Faamii citizen support worker assisting with medical transportation, homelessness and emergency situations.

During her second term, Burnouf will continue working to advance a Treaty called Kishchi Mashinaayikun Ooshchi Michif, which means the Sacred Document from the Michif. She’ll also continue to work with lawyers regarding Métis fishing and hunting rights in the region, which currently aren’t recognized by the provincial government.

Métis citizens can vote in the MNS general election at the Visions North Community Futures office in La Ronge. Advance voting is May 12 to 17 with May 24 being election day.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com