A Saulteaux First Nation businesswoman wants to be the NDP standard-bearer in Cut Knife-Turtleford in the 2011 provincial election.
Bernadette Gopher launched her campaign for the party's nomination Wednesday at a morning event at the White Rock Gas and Confectionary, the business she has owned and operated for the past eight years.
Gopher was joined at the announcement by a large number of supporters from the First Nations community in the riding, including Saulteaux chief Danny Moccasin and Red Pheasant chief Stewart Baptiste, as well as elders and several other well wishers.
The event was an auspicious kickoff for Gopher's campaign to win the NDP nomination, with a nomination convention expected for later this fall in the constituency. So far Gopher is the first one to publicly declare her intentions for the NDP nod.
Gopher lives within the constituency borders in Hamlin, just north of the Battlefords, and is a member of Saulteaux First Nation. She is the mother of six children and has five grandchildren. Her husband, Fred, is a former Saulteaux chief and councillor and was on hand to lend support to his wife during the announcement, which served as a rally of sorts in advance of the campaign to come.
In seeking the nomination, Gopher said her small business skills and her skills and abilities as a business person make her well-suited to be an NDP MLA. She told reporters she felt she offered a contrast to the approach of the governing party.
"We've witnessed in a lot of different ways how the Sask. Party has hurt our people," Gopher said. "It's about time we come forward and put a government in there that's going to work for all people and I believe that the NDP will do that."
She was unhappy with what she has heard in her visits within the constituency, particularly the impact of the sale of crown lands by the Sask. Party government.
"They have done that without consulting the people, and that is something we need to address," said Gopher, saying there needed to be a government in power willing to consult.
During her speech to supporters Gopher also criticized the current government for cutbacks to health care and education, saying Premier Brad Wall has not kept his promises.
Gopher also hopes to send a positive message about First Nations involvement in politics by running. She said she hopes that by running for office she will inspire more interest in politics and encourage more people to get out and vote, citing the low turnout in past elections.
She said she was proud to receive the support from Saulteaux First Nation as well as from around the constituency.
"I still have a lot of work ahead of me," Gopher acknowledged, as the work begins to sell memberships and ensure a successful nomination.
Gopher also did not seem worried the election would be an uphill climb. The riding has been in the firm grip of the Saskatchewan Party for the past decade. The previous NDP candidate in 2007, Roger Emberley, received only 29 per cent of the vote compared to 63 per cent for the Sask .Party.
Still, Gopher expressed optimism and said the Sask. Party was not respecting the voters. "I have a lot of confidence I will be successful all the way," Gopher said.
The Saskatchewan Party also will be holding a nomination meeting to select a candidate to replace current MLA Michael Chisholm, who is not running for re-election. That nomination meeting is expected to happen later this year, but no date has been announced.
