The Saskatchewan provincial election is coming up.
In just over two weeks, people of the Lloydminster constituency will head out to the polls to choose a nominee. Four candidates have tossed their names in the mix, all of whom happen to be women.
Dolores Pahtayken of the Liberal party is one of them. She is from Onion Lake Cree Nation, where she was born and raised, and currently resides with her family, as well as serving as a member of Council for Onion Lake Cree Nation, as she has done since 2010.
Pahtayken and her husband have 4 children: Damian, Darian, Detinee, Dallyne. Pahtayken has studied education at the University of Saskatchewan and most recently, business administration at Lakeland College.
She is currently a member of the Onion Lake Health board and a former member of the Onion Lake Sports, Culture, and Recreation board of directors. Pahtayken was also part of the group that organized the Onion Lake Minor Ball Association. She is a former Youth Facility Worker for Saskatchewan Corrections and Public Safety as well as a former Special Constable with the RCMP.
“I’ve spent a great amount of time dedicated to helping improve lives of underprivileged children and their families,” says Pahtayken.
Paktayken explains she doesn’t necessarily consider herself a politician, at least not like the ones she’s seen. She considers herself, first and foremost, an advocate. And she wants to be an advocate for the people in the Lloydminster constituency, especially those who feel they aren’t heard or that they don’t have a voice. She has long since advocated for children with disabilities, for women’s rights, and for gender equality.
“I’m one of the voters in this constituency that feels that politicians do a lot more talking than they do listening. I’m the opposite. I’ll listen more, and bring those concerns forward. I don’t have all the answers. Never will I pretend to know all the answers, but I know collectively, we can come up with solutions,” says Pahtayken.
She continues, “I’m just frustrated by the system, you know? I am, and I have to agree with the general population that feel there’s no point in voting. Most people don’t vote because they’re not heard. There needs are not met and they don’t care. But they should. They should and they have to have someone there that knows their needs, first hand, that knows what it’s like to be hungry, that knows what it’s like to go without. These are the real issues. In today’s current economy, we have to be looking after everyone.”
Pahtayken also speaks out often about one issue in particular that she’s very passionate about: the current state of the health care system in the province. Having taken a step back from work to focus on one of her daughters who is living with a disability, Pahtayken explains she has a great deal of experience with respect to that area, and expresses frustration with the weight times for beds, treatments, and to get in to see specialists.
Election day is April 4th. For more information on where and how to vote go to elections.sk.ca