By Don Sandberg

Provincial election fever in The Pas riding took on a bizarre twist during the campaign. The Norway House Cree Nation purchased a table at a fundraiser in The Pas riding, held for incumbent NDP candidate Oscar Lathlin. Chief Ron Evans and company were in attendance.

But wait, before we move ahead too far, a little background into the history of local politics has.

In the last provincial election in 1999, Chief Ron Evans of the Norway House Cree Nation entered mainstream politics for the first time as the Progressive Conservative candidate for The Pas riding. Evans lost in a close bid to unseat incumbent NDP MLA Oscar Lathlin.

During this election Richard Goudy, is the PC candidate for The Pas riding. In 1999 Mr. Goudy had also hoped to represent the PC party in 1999 election. Little did Goudy know at the time that Chief Ron Evans of Norway House was on his way with a large contingent of supporters headed for the nomination meeting. As a PC party supporter said, "when the buses rolled in from Norway House to attend the PC nomination meeting, it became obvious that Chief Evans would win the nomination to represent the PC's locally". Goudy, a strong PC party supporter then went on to campaign hard for Chief Evans.

Are you still with me? From here on it gets more confusing.

Along comes the 2000 federal election and the race to win the nomination to represent the Churchill riding for the Liberals heats up between two people. Former NDP MLA and Member of Parliament Elija Harper and Chief Ron Evans of the Norway House Cree Nation who both vie to represent the federal Liberals. Accusations fly back and forth between the two of buying party memberships. In the end Elija Harper wins the nomination, but loses the election to incumbent, Churchill MP Bev Desjarlais of the NDP.

Move ahead to late 2002 in The Pas. The elections of officers for the Churchill constituency are being held in The Pas. Again, a large convoy of vehicles arrives from Norway House. The meeting has to be relocated to accommodate the additional numbers and is relocated to a church basement.

As one observer attending this meeting says, " The large group from Norway House appeared to come armed with a list of who was to be voted in and to what positions". The result being that the Liberal Party's Churchill constituency office is now effectively being controlled and operated out of Norway House.

One attendee remarked sarcastically that they (Norway House) were kind enough to give us back three positions but they have all the rest.

The new Churchill riding president is Chief Evans' own special assistant Freda Albert; and the new vice president is Norway House Band councillor Mike Muswagon.

In telephone call to one of the new constituency office directors from Norway House, I asked "what was the reason for taking over the riding office?" The response was, "we just do not want to happen to what happened prior to the last federal election." And the newly elected director indicated that the band had funded the trip to The Pas, although this could not be confirmed.

Is it fair to assume that the next candidate to represent the federal Liberals in the Churchill Constituency may very well be Chief Ron Evans? Evans himself has neither confirmed nor denied those intentions.

Now we have to move forward to May 2003. The Norway House Cree Nation purchases a table at an NDP fundraiser for candidate Oscar Lathlin.

To the surprise and astonishment of many in attendance, Chief Ron Evans steps towards the podium and tells the party faithful gathered there, that he is supporting Oscar Lathlin and the NDP in this provincial election. He then wrapped his arms around Lathlin for a hug; those in attendance noted that Evans was the only one to hug Lathlin. Evans may be looking for provincial support for his "privatization for profit of the health care system in Norway House"-something the band members say will result in the deterioration of their health care.

The PC faithful did not show up at the polls to cast their ballot this time around. Richard Goudy the PC candidate only garnered around 700 votes coming in third behind Liberal Mark Sweeny who had over 800 votes. Sweeney's home community failed to back one of their own, although Liberal numbers are steadily climbing each election. As for the PC party, they felt that the orange dog syndrome could not be overcome. Lathlin, like him or not, is The Pas MLA for the next four years.

Now that the Liberal constituency office is run out of Norway House, it is rumoured that Prime Minister in waiting, the Honourable Paul Martin, is to make a visit to Norway House soon. Will Chief Ron Evans, pledge his support for Mr. Martin also?