Sipekne'katik votes Mike Sack back in as Chief for third term

Sipekne’kitak, FN. – In a defining election Chief Mike Sack was notified of the final ballot count of over 72% in his favor this evening by the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq returning officer.

3 Candidates ran for Chief - Heather Knockwood, Kim Paul and Chief Mike Sack.

“It has always been the greatest honor of my life to represent the people of my community however, today perhaps more than ever, as we have seen their resilience and strength emerge on the world’s stage in recent weeks,” said Chief Mike Sack. “Our people are committed to advancing our Treaty right to a moderate livelihood and we are very close to finalizing our Rights Implementation Fishery Management plan as we move from phase one to phase two.”

Sipekne’kitak elected council seats are as follows; Lena Knockwood (487), Doreen Knockwood (484), Gerry Augustine (474), Keith Julian (457), Gavin Michael (452), Cheryl Gehue (440), Brandon Maloney (349), Mary Ellen Syliboy (348), Rufus Copage (402), Michelle Glasgow (395), Eldon Wayne Paul (394), and Timothy Nevin (374). 12 Council seats with 36 candidates running for those seats.

The election comes on the heels of Chief Sack making the decision to shut down the community’s commercial fishery licenses in LFA33 and 34 last week. “We are already starting to feel the financial impact of pulling the licenses in LFA35 early,” said Chief Sack. “The choice was simple to ensure the safety of our fishers and to reduce any further damage to our vessels and gear but the losses will be something that we need to contend with for some time.” Early estimates for ceding any further Sipekne’katik lobster landings this season are conservatively assessed at $3 million in direct losses to the community.

“It is critical that the Federal and Provincial governments provide an exemption for our people to sell lobster under section 35, the right to self-determination,” said Sack. “Our capacity to provide for ourselves and our community overall has been completely obstructed first by the commercial fishery and now by the Federal and Provincial government’s inaction in addressing the DFO only approved license to sell.”

Sipekne’katik election figures:

72% or 710 of 982 voted for Chief Sack to return as Chief for the next two years

Ballots cast -- 772 walked in to vote and 210 mail ins (982) total - of approx. 2000 eligible voters. Sipekne’katik Community Population is 2770. Results were tabulated by the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq. Brenda Tracy was the Electoral Officer overseeing the vote and ballot count.