Romeo Saganash

Diom Roméo Saganash (born October 28, 1961) is a Canadian Cree lawyer and politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Quebec riding of Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou from 2011 to 2019.[3] As a member of the New Democratic Party he was first elected to the House of Commons in the 2011 federal election, succeeding Yvon Lévesque of the Bloc Québécois. He was reelected in the 2015 federal election. He did not run for reelection in 2019.

Romeo Saganash
Saganash speaking to the 2011 convention of the New Democratic Party in Vancouver, British Columbia
Shadow Minister for International Cooperation
In office
April 19, 2012 – October 21, 2012
LeaderThomas Mulcair
Preceded byJinny Sims
Succeeded byHélène Laverdière
Shadow Minister for Natural Resources
In office
May 26, 2011 – September 30, 2011
LeaderJack Layton
Nycole Turmel
Preceded byDenis Coderre
Succeeded byClaude Gravelle
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou
In office
May 2, 2011 – October 21, 2019
Preceded byYvon Lévesque
Succeeded bySylvie Bérubé
Deputy Grand Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees
In office
1990 – 1993[1]
Grand ChiefTed Moses
Personal details
Born
Diom Romeo Saganash[2]

(1961-10-28) October 28, 1961
Waswanipi, Quebec, Canada
Political partyNew Democratic Party
ResidenceQuebec City
Alma materUniversité du Québec à Montréal
ProfessionLawyer
Websitewww.saganash.ca

Early life

Saganash was born on October 28, 1961 in Waswanipi, a native community in Quebec.[3] At the age of seven, he was among 27 Cree children taken from their homes to attend French-language schooling in La Tuque, while living with an English-speaking Anglican family.[4] The program was cancelled the following year, but he remained there for ten years, completing his schooling in French.[5] After that, he attended a meeting on the negotiations between the Cree and Government officials on constitutional and resource rights, which sparked his interest in pursuing a law degree. He attended law school at the Université du Québec à Montréal and in 1989 he became the first Cree to receive a law degree in Quebec.[6] Saganash is fluent in Cree, French and English.[7]

Career
Saganash at the 2012 NDP leadership convention in Toronto.

In 1985, Saganash founded the Cree Nation Youth Council.[8] He was the Vice-Grand Chief to The Grand Council of the Crees of James Bay from 1990 to 1993,[2] and he later became director of Quebec relations and international affairs for over ten years.[9] From 1997 to 2000, Saganash chaired the James Bay Advisory Committee on the Environment.[8]

As a prominent Cree figure in a riding with many aboriginal voters, Saganash received personal support from NDP Quebec lieutenant Thomas Mulcair, who referred to Saganash as a "very important candidate".[9] He was elected in the 2011 federal election to represent Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou.

On Friday September 16, 2011, Saganash announced that he was running for the leadership of the NDP, to succeed Jack Layton.[10] He is believed to be the first aboriginal leader to run for the leadership of a major Canadian party.[7] He announced his withdrawal on February 9, 2012, citing illness in his family and a lack of confidence in his campaign.[11] On March 7, 2012, Saganash announced that he would support Mulcair for NDP leader.[12]

After an incident where he was removed from an Air Canada Jazz flight from Montreal to Val-d'Or for intoxication, Saganash took sick leave in October 2012 for the treatment of alcohol dependency. Saganash cited the death of his "friend and mentor" Jack Layton, as well as the "profound scars" he received while in the residential school system as the reasons for his dependency.[13] He completed his treatment in November 2012, and returned for the start of the House's first session of 2013.[14]

In the 2015 Canadian federal election, Saganash was reelected to a second term.

By July 2018, Saganash had decided not to run in the 43rd Canadian federal election.[15]

Electoral record
2015 Canadian federal election: Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
New DemocraticRoméo Saganash12,77837.02-7.80$33,061.53
LiberalPierre Dufour11,09432.14+21.67$29,180.64
Bloc QuébécoisLuc Ferland6,39818.54+0.27$31,842.28
ConservativeSteven Hébert3,2119.30-13.25$11,040.28
GreenPatrick Benoît7792.26-1.63$2,173.92
RhinocerosMario Gagnon2580.75–$3.70
Total valid votes/Expense limit 34,518100.0   $247,914.66
Total rejected ballots 609––
Turnout 35,12755.55–
Eligible voters 63,226
New Democratic hold Swing -14.73
Source: Elections Canada[16][17]
2011 Canadian federal election: Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
New DemocraticRoméo Saganash13,96144.79+36.59$61,976.57
ConservativeJean-Maurice Matte7,08922.74-7.63$75,028.15
Bloc QuébécoisYvon Lévesque5,61518.02-21.63$61,279.33
LiberalLéandre Gervais3,28210.53-7.89$76,159.99
GreenJohnny Kasudluak1,2213.92+0.58$0.00
Total valid votes/Expense limit 31,168100.00
Total rejected ballots 4801.51
Turnout 31,68453.69
  New Democratic Party gain from Bloc Québécois Swing +29.11
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See also

References
  1. Bryden, Joan (November 3, 2011). "Saganash questions validity of NDP signature policy on Quebec secession". Winnipeg Free Press. Canadian Press. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
  2. "Q & A: Diom Roméo Saganash". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  3. "Cree politician Romeo Saganash". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 26 September 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  4. Patrick, Donna (2003). Language, politics, and social interaction in an Inuit community. Berlin, Germany: Walter de Gruyter. p. 218. ISBN 3-11-017652-1.
  5. Marcelino, Don (2000). Le voyage sacré amérindien. Année 2000, regard amérindien sur l'Europe (in French). ISBN 2-910677-39-7.
  6. House of Commons Debates: Official Report Volume 2. Ottawa: Queen's Printer. 1989.
  7. Authier, Philip (September 17, 2011). "Saganash announces bid for NDP leadership". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on September 26, 2011. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  8. "About Romeo Saganash". New Democratic Party. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
  9. Dougherty, Kevin (March 31, 2011). "Popular Cree leader running for NDP". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
  10. "Romeo Saganash says he will run for the NDP leadership". Winnipeg Free Press. Canadian Press. September 16, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  11. Canadian, Press (February 9, 2012). "Saganash to bow out of NDP leadership race, announcement Friday". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  12. Authier, Philip (March 7, 2012). "Romeo Saganash backs Thomas Mulcair for NDP leadership". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  13. Payton, Laura. "NDP MP Saganash taking sick leave to treat alcoholism". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  14. Cohen, Tobi (16 January 2013). "Romeo Saganash returns from rehab, NDP MP happy to be back at 'crucial' time for aboriginals". Postmedia News. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  15. Ryckewaert, Laura (July 2, 2018). "Political parties busy laying groundwork this summer for 2019 election, Conservatives already ahead". The Hill Times. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  16. Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, 30 September 2015
  17. Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
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