Pasqua Chief Peigan leaves a legacy of working for future generations

Article content Walking through the halls of Pasqua First Nation’s elementary school, Chief Matthew Todd Peigan makes special mention of certain design choices. From the willow branch accents on the foyer’s ceiling to the remote-operated safety door locks, the school was built with care to ensure the now 170 children who attend have a safe and culturally rich place to learn. The school is one of the many projects that Peigan helped negotiate funding for as chief, and on the long list of contributions that he will be remembered for as he prepares to step away from politics.

He said he’s proud of how things have changed in the community during his 32 years as an elected official. The number of members living on the Saulteaux and Cree First Nation, located 60 kilometres northeast of Regina, has grown. During his 14 years as chief, the population has more than doubled from a little more than 400 in 2011 to over 1,000 people today.



Improving services has helped Pasqua retain its members and encourage those who had previously moved off-reserve to return to the community. “Gradually, over time, if we don’t do that our Elders all pass and people migrate to the urban centres,” explained Peigan as he walked through the modular rooms of the high school pointing out spots where expansions could be added in the future to accommodate more students. “We created a process to come home, a process for education.

” A busy three decades Peigan was 26 years old when he was first elected chief in 1993. He served for four years before switching it up as a councillor from 2001 through 2011. He was elected chief again in 2011.

Now 59, he’s not running again in the next election, which is set to take place Monday. He will leave a large legacy — one that is clearly visible on Pasqua First Nation. It includes the 12-room Elders’ lodge with an on-site nurse, two addictions councillors and an officer hired to police the community exclusively.

There are also 40 independent living units for those 65 years of age and older and six units designated for members experiencing homelessness in places like Regina. Peigan says there are also plans for a new 40-lot subdivision on top of the almost 300 homes in the community. Pasqua was awarded a $145-million land settlement in 2018 and has funded projects using the interest and returns.

Peigan has also launched two lawsuits that remain before the courts — one that alleges the province’s revenue sharing program discriminates against First Nation’s in Saskatchewan and one that alleges discrimination against Indigenous kids in care. As chief, he says it has been difficult to please everyone with his long-term vision for the First Nation. For example, although the Elders’ lodge is positive because it enables members to remain in the community as they age, he said some criticized that the construction wasn’t done by First Nations builders.

A ‘principled’ leader File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council (FHQTC) Chief Jeremy Fourhorns describes Peigan as a “principled” leader who has worked hard, not only for the benefit of Pasqua members, but also for other First Nations. FHQTC is an organization of 11 First Nations within Treaty 4 territory that collaborate to pursue mutual interests, such as self-determination. “Our 10 other communities benefited hugely from the work that he put in and the time that he shared,” said Fourhorns, noting that Peigan’s work on land settlements grew the knowledge of the FHQTC lands development department staff.

“He never stopped trying,” said Fourhorns. “There were things that could have been a failure in the past, not worked out. But did he give up? No, he still kept working and still kept getting wins for his nation.

” Plans for the future With politics soon behind him, he plans to focus his time helping First Nations across the country establish their own child welfare departments. He is developing a road map that outlines the legal policies and cost-modelling involved in a First Nation taking over responsibility of children in the federal government’s care and then providing support to families. “It’s not just about taking children into care, it’s preventing children from coming into care by working with their families,” said Peigan, who has a background in social work.

Before that, he says he’s looking forward to taking a few weeks to relax. Monday’s election will see a new chief leading the council. Peigan knows how challenging the job can be and respects the person who takes it up.

“If you’re going to sit in that chair, remember you’re going to get heck from people. They’re going to swear at you. But you’ve got to remember you’re the chief.

You have to help them. You can’t hold animosity toward them,” he said, repeating the advice he says the Elders gave him back when he started in politics in 1993. “And I try to carry that my whole life.

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