(By Kevin O’Connor / Regina Leader Post.)
REGINA.
Nobody stepped forward to replace him, so Brendan Cross said Monday he’ll stay on as leader of the struggling First Nations Party of Saskatchewan.
“In the absence of any serious contenders for party leader or any firm commitment from outspoken critics of my own leadership, I have decided to continue where I left off,” said Cross, a status Indian who’s a member of the Saulteaux First Nation, north of North Battleford.
On Nov. 29, 2000, Cross announced he’d step down as leader of the party he had founded five months earlier.
At the time, he said he was leaving because his leadership was hindering growth of the party.
Cross said “a half dozen” people had talked about another candidate taking his place, but nothing came of it.
“There are a lot of people reluctant to assume leadership and the responsibilities that it entails,” he said.
Cross said his main priority is to field a candidate – probably himself – in the upcoming Regina Elphinstone by-election.
The party is holding its nomination meeting next Monday and so far Cross is the only candidate.
He said he plans to go door-to-door visiting every polling area in the riding.
One of his themes is that aboriginal people must take charge of their own political destiny, he said.
“All I care about at this point is that people vote,” Cross said.
“I don’t even care who people vote for,” he said.
Cross insists his isn’t a one-person party.
About 1,000 people are members of the party and in the past few weeks, all the organization’s main executive positions have been filled, he said.
Meanwhile, Cross said he hasn’t resolved a dispute with a North Battleford law firm over the name of his party.
That firm has already registered “First Nations Party of Saskatchewan.”
As a result, Cross’ party can’t solicit funds under the name and party memberships are free of charge.
“We are not officially registered as a corporation in Saskatchewan,” he said.
Cross said he has asked the company to allow him to use the name, but hasn’t received a response yet.
Cross received national attention during last year’s federal election campaign, when, during a rally for Canadian Alliance Leader Stockwell Day, he walked on stage and lit on fire the CA’s aboriginal policy.
“Because I’m young and dumb, I’m willing to do a lot of things that other people wouldn’t,” the 25-year-old Cross said.
Cross ran as a candidate for the Canadian Action party in that election, getting 143 votes and finishing in fifth place in the Churchill River constituency.
