Liberal candidate from Lac des Mille Lacs

By Rick Garrick

A Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation citizen and former Grand Council Treaty #3 executive director is running for the Liberals in the Thunder Bay-Rainy River riding.
“My plan is to listen,” says Don Rusnak, a 40-year-old lawyer. “We are going to do a big First Nation tour across the west of the region on Sept. 20, 21 and 22. I am also going to meet with the chiefs on the 22 and listen to them — that is my strength, listening and advocating for what people want.”
Rusnak studied law at the University of Manitoba, Robson Hall Faculty of Law, after studying Political Science and Integrated Forest Resource Management at Lakehead University. In his final year at law school, he attended Osgoode Hall Law School to study in the Intensive Program in Aboriginal Lands, Resources and Governments. Before setting up his law office in Fort William First Nation, Rusnak was a crown prosecutor in eastern Alberta and an advisor with Manitoba Health.
Rusnak says the reaction to his campaign has been positive.
“I’m the first Aboriginal candidate in Thunder Bay-Rainy River,” Rusnak says, noting he has already met with a number of Aboriginal communities, including the Metis Council and Rainy River First Nation. “I have toured Manitou Forest Products, an excellently run business, and seen He says he gained plenty of experience in the region while working with Grand Council Treaty #3.
“I saw the problem with funding agreements — essentially they dictate to First Nations and First Nations people what they can and cannot do,” Rusnak says. “What I’ve heard from the people is they want to do what they want to do. They want their priorities to be their priorities and they want to be able to do them.”
Rusnak wants to work on reforming the Indian Act.
“I know it is going to be a generational change, but we have to start now,” Rusnak says. “I think I have the knowledge, skill and ability to get that start going.”
Rusnak says the Indian Act reformation process would involve consultation with every First Nation across the country.
“It needs to start from the grassroots, but you need the leadership there as well,” Rusnak says. “It’s going to be what the people want — I’m just going to be an advocate for what they want. But we have to start the change now.”
The Liberal candidate began his law career with an internship at the British Columbia Treaty Commission, during which time he met with First Nations across the province.
“It’s a very different place from here,” Rusnak says. “The federal government has to understand that, that First Nations in northwestern Ontario are not the same as in Alberta or Quebec. Every community is different.”
Rusnak says Fort William First Nation has different issues from the Treaty #3 communities in the Thunder Bay-Rainy River riding.
“They are more urban; they are right beside the City of Thunder Bay,” Rusnak says. “One of their biggest issues right now is the (James Street) bridge. I understand the city has an agreement with the railway, but our federal government could be there doing more to help the people in Fort William First Nation.”
Rusnak attended Fort William’s first Family Street Festival on Sept. 7, where he met with Chief Peter Collins.
“I’m throwing my support behind the community for what they want to do,” Rusnak says. “It’s not about what I want or what my policies are — it’s about listening to what the communities want and advocating for them in Ottawa.”