Robert G Doucette
President
Métis Nation - Saskatchewan

Robert Glen Doucette was born on February 28, 1962, in Buffalo Narrows, Saskatchewan. He spent his first four years in Duck Lake, and was then raised by his parents -- Marcien and Rita Doucette -- and received his primary and secondary education in Prince Albert. Robert has maintained a lifelong interest in sports. In his younger years, he played on a softball team called the "Old Dutch Twins" which won the provincial title three times in a six year span. He represented Prince Albert in three provincial track meets, and played on numerous championship hockey teams. His ongoing physical activities include long distance running, working out at a gym, and participation in various other sports to keep in shape.

Robert and his partner, Betty Garr, live and work in Saskatoon, and have three children: Brady Garr (b. 1990), Breanna Garr (b. 1992), and Julia Garr (b. 1995). Robert also has a daughter, Kyra (b. 1986), from a previous relationship.

Doucette completed three years of post-secondary education: from 1984-1985, he worked on the first year of an Education degree in the SUNTEP program in Prince Albert, University of Saskatchewan; from 1985-1986, he completed the second year of an Education degree in the SUNTEP program in Saskatoon, University of Saskatchewan; from 1988-1989, he attended the University of Brandon, Brandon, Manitoba, studying towards a double major in Political Science/Native Studies. Double Major, 3rd year.

From April 1989 to January 1990, Robert was employed as a Clerk (CR3) for Finance Accounting Operations, Employment and Immigration Canada, Financial Services, in Regina, Saskatchewan. In 1990, Robert was Saskatchewan Regional Coordinator of the Native Internship Program operated by Canada Employment & Immigration, in Regina, Saskatchewan. From November 1991 to May 1992, Robert was employed as the Provincial Coordinator of the Saskatchewan 500 Years Coalition. From May 1992 to April 1993, Robert was employed as a researcher for the MNS Western Region II and IIA and the Métis Labor Force Corporation. From April 1993 to March 1994, Robert was employed as Executive Director of Métis Employment & Training Inc. (MÉTIS Inc.). From February 19, 1995 to January 22, 1998, Robert held the position of Area Director, Western Region 2A, of the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan. This was an elected and a paid position. While in this position, he managed a number of portfolios and sat on a number of affiliated and related committees. From February 22, 1998 to January 17, 2001, Robert held the position of Secretary on the Provincial Métis Council of the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan. This was an elected and a paid position. From February 18, 2001 to April 9, 2001, Robert held the position of Vice President on the Provincial Métis Council of the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan. This was an elected and a paid position. From April 2001 to the present, Robert has been employed by Métis Employment and Training of Saskatchewan Inc. (METSI) as Labour Market Analyst and Manager.

Robert Doucette has run for and won several elected positions in the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan. These include: 1993-1995, Saskatoon Métis Local #126 President; 1995-1998: Western Region 2A Area Director; 1998-2001: Provincial Métis Council Secretary; 2001: Provincial Métis Council Vice President. As a result of a recount, the results of the 2001 election were overturned within weeks of the election, amid some controversy. In 2004, Doucette was was initially declared the new president of the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan in a May 26 provincewide election. But after counting a missing ballot box, the election commission named Dwayne Roth president, a decision that Doucette appealed. Former Chief Electoral Officer Keith Lampard was commissioned by the Government of Saskatchewan to answer the question of whether the Métis election of 2004 was run in a fair and democratic manner. In his report, Lampard detailed a number of serious problems with the election. However, the provincial government did not have the authority to order a new election, although it did cut off provincial funding to Metis organizations operated by the MNS. From 1995 to 2001, Robert was an elected delegate to the Métis National Council. While in these positions, Robert has also served as an affiliate board member for the following institutions: Gabriel Dumont Institute; Métis Sport, Culture, Youth and Recreation; Métis Employment and Training (Métis Inc.); Back to Batoche Committee; Métis Addictions Council of Saskatchewan Inc. (MACSI).

Besides his considerable elected and professional experience working with Métis and aboriginal organizations in Saskatchewan, Doucette his devoted many years of volunteer service to Métis, aboriginal, and community organizations in both Saskatchewan and Manitoba, including the Prince Albert Friendship Centre as a Native Youth Group counsellor (1984); the Indigenous Student Council (ISC) External & Internal Policy Board, University of Saskatchewan (1985-1986); University of Saskatchewan Student Council, External Board (1985-1986); Brandon University Native Organization (BUNO): External and Internal Policy Board (1989); Brandon Friendship Centre member (1989);; MSS Local 33, Regina member (1990-1991); MSS Local 126, Saskatoon chairperson (1991-1993); Labour Force Development Strategy (LFDS) board member (1992); MNS Western Region II & IIA Métis Pathways board member (1992); Saskatoon Indian & Métis Friendship Centre member (1992-1993); Riversdale Community Association (Saskatoon) executive member (1992); and Dumont Technical Institute board member (1993).

Bruce Dumont
President
Métis Nation British Columbia

Bruce was born May 25th, 1944 in Olds, Alberta, to Mother - Cecile Marie Dumont (Vaness) and father Joseph Ambrose Dumont, both of Métis Ancestry. Bruce was educated in Alberta at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) as a Tradesman with a red sealed in Electronics moving into the Forest Industry, completing his career with the Workers Compensation Board. After post secondary Bruce spent 9 years in the Electronics field. Bruce moved into the forest industry with several years as a supervisor on the west coast. Bruce joined the Workers Compensations Board in 1992 as a safety officer and recently retired in 2006.

 President Bruce Dumont currently serves as the Metis Nation BC Minister Responsible for Health and Minister Responsible for Registry and the National Minister Responsible for Culture, Heritage and Language as the BC Board of Governor to the Metis National Council Board of Governors. Bruce has been an active Métis community member and has played a major role in a number of Métis cultural events. Based on his years of volunteer work in the Métis community he was elected Vice President for the Métis Nation British Columbia on April 17, 2004. Bruce was successfully elected in a provincial by-election on December 3, 2005 and has remained as the elected President for the Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) to this day. Bruce presently resides in Victoria, BC with his Fiancée Joanne Dante; they have a combined family of seven adult children, and twelve grandchildren. 

Allen Morin
Vice-President
Metis-Nation- Saskatchewan

Allan Morin has acquired over thirty years experience in issues impacting Métis communities not only in Saskatchewan, but across Canada and internationally. In June 2007, he was voted as Vice President of the Métis Nation – Saskatchewan.  Prior to this appointment, Allan served three consecutive terms as Treasurer and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs for the MN – S.

His past experience includes many years as a Key member with the Métis Rights Panel and as Minister of Environment for the Métis National Council. Allan also is appointed to the Mining Association of Canada Advisory Panel, an ex- officio representative of the Métis National Council, and the National Aboriginal Council for Species at Risk. He is also fluent in his native language of Michif.

Allan and his wife Louise reside in Ile-a-la-Crosse, Saskatchewan.

Senator Nora Cummings
Métis Nation - Saskatchewan

Shirley Isbister
President
Central Urban Métis Federation

Geordy McCaffery
Executive Director
Gabriel Dumont Institute 

Geordy was born and raised in the North Battleford area.  Geordy is a proud alumnus of Gabriel Dumont Institute’s (GDI) SUNTEP  program (1993).  He places a high value on the positive experience he received in SUNTEP and is committed to providing similar opportunities for other Metis students in the province.  Geordy has worked at GDI for sixteen years, and has held his current position as Executive Director for the past six.  Geordy has served the Metis and broader Saskatchewan communities on a number of boards and commissions including the Saskatchewan Labour Market Commission, Clarence Campeau Development Fund, and both the University of Saskatchewan and University of Regina senates.  Geordy and his wife Jennifer live in Saskatoon with their three boys – Carson, Jared and Kirby.”

Delbert Kirsch
MLA Batoche

 Delbert Kirsch was first elected as MLA for the new constituency of Batoche on November 5, 2003.  When he was re-elected in 2007, Premier Brad Wall asked Delbert to serve as the chair of the Legislature’s Standing Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs and Justice. Premier Wall appointed Delbert the Legislative Secretary to the Premier and Saskatchewan Heritage Initiative, as well as the Legislative Secretary to the Minister of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing.  Delbert is a member of the Legislative Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs and Justice, the House Services Committee and the Caucus Standing Policy Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs and Justice.  He currently chairs the Private Member’s Committee and sits on the board of Members’ Privileges.  He has also served as the Deputy Government House Leader.

 Delbert grew up on a farm near Middle Lake, raising grain and purebred Polled Hereford cattle. Besides farming Delbert has a background in business, being a co-owner and auctioneer of Kirsch Auctions.

 Delbert has served as a Sunday school teacher and youth counselor for over 20 years, as well as being on the board of youth services for Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Northern Ontario.

 Delbert has been married to Valerie for over 30 years and they have three children: Roxanne, Tracy and Jonathan. Delbert enjoys reading, movies and music.

 Delbert has served as 4H club leader and district representative to the regional 4H council, member of the local school board and on the board of directors for the Saskatchewan Hereford Association.

May Henderson

May was born October 17, 1947 in Prince Albert, Sask, the youngest child of Georges and Dorothy Parenteau. She has two older sisters living in Prince Albert; Laurraine Henry and Leona Sarchuk.

 May spent most of her life in Prince Albert, moving to Saskatoon in August, 1993.  May received her schooling in Prince Albert, attended the Prince Albert Business College.  May spent seven years working for Department of Social Services in Prince Albert and 14 years as Office Manager for the Native Coordinating Council, then in August, 1993, she moved to Saskatoon and was employed with Gabriel Dumont Institute, as Director of Student Services. She then worked for the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan as secretary to the Provincial Secretary and the President of the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan.   Since May, 1999, she has been the Executive Director of the Saskatoon Indian and Métis Friendship Centre and continues in this capacity.

May has been a member of the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan since she was 16 years old. She is a former member of the Prince Albert Métis Local #7, serving as President , Vice-President and Treasurer for a number of years while living in Prince Albert.  She is currently the Vice-President of the Provincial Métis Women’s of Saskatchewan and President of the local Chapter of the Western Region Métis Women, Board Member of Central Urban Métis Federation Inc., Board Member of the Provincial Métis Housing Corporation, Treasurer, Métis Addiction Council of Saskatchewan, and former Treasurer of Gabriel Dumont Institute.  May received the Centennial Medal and the Order of Gabriel Dumont Institute.

May is mother to Janelle Bellegarde and grandmother to Josie and Rhodes.

Jennifer Altenberg

Jennifer was born and raised in Prince Albert, Sk. and currently resides in Saskatoon. She is recently a proud alumnus of SUNTEP Saskatoon (2010). As a student, Jennifer was the President of the SUNTEP Student Council and sat on various U of S committees advocating for Métis student issues.

Jennifer has worked for the Gabriel Dumont Institute as a Summer Student and she looks forward to beginning her teaching career. Her professional and personal goals are to empower young people by sharing Métis and culturally respectful content, deconstructing current pedagogical processes in the Education system and enhancing Métis identity and unity throughout the community.  Jennifer is proud of her Métis heritage. She looks forward to creating social change and working for the betterment of Métis people. 

As the Youth Representative  Jennifer has worked on the planning of this year’s celebration including developing the Youth Program.

Jennifer believes Batoche Days is a time to unite and celebrate Métis pride as a people and hopes your time here with us is as enjoyable as it is memorable!

Darren Lavallee

Jaime Koebel

Warren Isbister

Barbara Cheechoo

Warren Isbister

TBA

Desmond Lagace

Robert Isfeld

Ryan Keplin

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