Francis G. Gladue is the new Chief of the Bigstone Cree Nation. Gladue – a long-time Bigstone employee – beat five other contenders in the Apr. 29 by-election. The by-election became necessary after Chief Gordon T. Auger retired earlier this year.
Auger was one of those in the race, having changed his mind about retiring. He came in second, polling 288 votes to Gladue’s 313. Former chief Mike Beaver was third with 175 votes.
Eighty Bigstone members voted for Raymond Yellowknee, Myles Auger got 64 votes and Basil Manossa got 63.
Including 26 spoiled ballots, 1,009 people voted in the election, which had polling stations in Wabasca and six other locations, including Slave Lake and Edmonton.
The Bigstone Cree Nation comprises four reserves in the Wabasca area and one at Calling Lake, in addition to communities of members at Peerless Lake, Trout Lake Chipewyan Lake and in other communities. Members do not have to live on reserve to be eligible to vote.
Gladue’s most recent job with the band was as manager of a program called ‘Non-Insured Health Benefits.’ He has worked in the Bigstone Health department for the past eight years, and in June will have been employed for 30 years with the band.
Gladue ran for the chief’s position twice before and came in dead last both times.
This time, “I think the people wanted somebody different and they got it,” he says.
Gladue’s term runs until the next general election in September of 2004.

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