Prince Albert's Kevin Henry is promising transparency and unity. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Election

Prince Albert’s Kevin Henry confirms intentions to run for MN-S President

Apr 10, 2025 | 3:00 PM

The Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S) election is still over a month away and the nomination deadline has not passed, however, Prince Albert’s Kevin Henry is not wasting time announcing his intentions to run for President.

Meeting with paNOW this week, Henry, who has a background in health care and government, explained his decision to run was based on both a feeling the timing was right and that he was prepared for that level of responsibility. He also noted his family’s history of work within the Métis community.

“We’ve been involved with the MN-S at various levels from my one auntie who’s head of the women’s group and my brother, who’s involved as a president in another provincial organization,” he said. “I just felt the time was right for me to start that journey now.”

Prior to moving back to Prince Albert in 2017, Henry worked for four years as a healthcare coordinator in B.C. He explained through this experience he attended committee meetings, discussed provincial budgets and learned how to figure out how expenditures are going to happen.That’s one of the reasons why the MN-S financial status is among his campaign platforms. Stating he has a lot of questions about the budgets, both with respect to current status and what’s coming down the pipe, Henry said he feels the path they are on right now is not sustainable.

“I look at those deficits and I’m quite concerned because it’s not that they can’t run budgets, I just don’t know how we’re going to cash manage the budgets,” he said.

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Expressing a desire for Métis citizens to develop a more equitable place in negotiations at all levels of government, Henry said once elected he would bring in a transitional team that will need three months to evaluate and assess all areas from HR policy to budgets.

In addition to being an advocate for Métis hunting and fishing rights, another strong keynote issue for Henry is exoneration. Noting he himself has family members that were directly involved in the Battle of Batoche, Henry said he has talked to other Métis people who have acknowledged similar generational trauma.

“And I know people like to focus on the financial side of things, but I feel that if we really want truth and reconciliation, part of reconciliation is we need to exonerate people that are involved in that battle, and that would be a big part of our healing journey,” he said.

Born and raised in Prince Albert, Henry graduated from St. Mary High School before leaving the city to pursue careers in nursing and consulting. Over the past eight years, he has followed the decisions of the provincial Métis council and also worked with Western Region II, specifically their COVID relief funds.

“If I’m elected president, everybody wins because things will be run in a matter that’s positive, will be based on transparency and unity,” he said.

“I know we’re we’re going down that journey of trying to come up with that path to self-governance. 
But until we fix some of the things I see going on there, I don’t I don’t think that’s feasible.”

The nomination period closes on April 24 at 2 p.m. Also announcing their intentions to run for president is Saskatoon’s Bonnie Marwood. The incumbent, Glen McCallum, is also expected to seek re-election.

On April 26, MN-S Western Region 2 is hosting an all candidates forum at East End Hall.

Election day is May 24.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Blue Sky: @nigelmaxwell.bsky.social