A returning Eden Valley councillor is excited for the challenges ahead.
Rex Daniels was re-elected for his fourth term on the Stoney Nakoda Bearspaw Band council Dec. 5, and he said it’s going to be a busy three years.
“I’m really excited because there’s going to be a lot of opportunities for people, especially the young people,” said Daniels.
He’ll be working alongside Pierre Lefthand, who is serving his first three-year term in Eden Valley. The two other Bearspaw councillors, from Morley, are incumbent Anthony Bearspaw and new electee Roderick Hunter.
Chief Darcy Dixon, of Morley, was re-elected as chief.
Daniels said much of his focus will be on youth and engaging young people with programming and opportunities on the reserve.
Some government grants earmarked for the Bearspaw Band will go toward youth activities, which he said are vital to build up the younger generation.
“It’s no secret, I think every society has the same problem with a lot of addictions and stuff like that,” said Daniels. “The youth I think, they’re the focus for those people. They’re bored because they’re not doing anything, they’re not employed, and they turn to different stuff that they shouldn’t.”
In addition, Daniels said he’ll be looking at improving housing and employment for people on the reserve.
One of his goals is to bring adult education programs into the high school so people can upgrade their schooling and be prepared to find new career opportunities.
He said providing the chance to better their education can help people find work outside the reserve, like he did for 30 years prior to becoming a Bearspaw councillor.
“I want to encourage them that there is jobs out there, there are opportunities off-reserve,” said Daniels.
He said he’s also going to try to connect with different groups in the community to learn first-hand what they need.
Over the past year, Daniels took time each month to meet with the elders, and he said moving forward he would also like to have monthly meetings with local youth.
“I want to listen to them,” he said. “I just want to know where the struggles are and how we can help each other.”
He said he’s also looking forward to the completion of the new gas bar in the Eden Valley area, which should bring a boost to the reserve’s economy and provide some more jobs.
Chief electoral officer Marvin Yellow Head said the 2019 election had a voter turnout of about 70 per cent, which is average for the Bearspaw Band.
“It went very well,” said Yellow Head. “The turnout was probably still pretty close to the same as last time.”
Appeals to the election results can be made in writing to Yellow Horn by 4 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2020.
