Provincial Métis Council Members

As a northern Saskatchewan resident, Laura brings 20 years of government experience to her role as representative with a particular flair in culture and language preservation. As a former teacher and MN–S government Minister, Laura is passionate about advancing programs and services that provide for Métis people where they live. She is proud of the fact that Métis people are becoming more engaged and would like to see more empowerment of Métis Locals. The mother of 3 boys and grandmother to 5, she has become a children’s entertainer through storytelling and music.

Brennan is a community leader with deep roots in lived experience, cultural reconnection, and healing. Overcoming more than 25 years of addiction, trauma, and disconnection, he has walked a path of resilience — guided by the Personal Development Wheel and grounded in Métis values such as Trust, Respect, Caring, Feeling, Understanding, Tolerance, Acceptance and Forgiveness. Brennan brings his lived experience into leadership to share and help guide others on the same journey. He brings more than 6 years of MN–S government knowledge to his new position, having previously served as the President’s advisor.

As a third-term member of the MN–S government, Ryan got his passion for politics from his father who was an integral part of MN–S leadership when the Métis Constitution was introduced in 1992. His grandfather, World War II Veteran Pierre Carriere, was among the founders of the Cumberland House Legion. Ryan brings that desire to advocate for Métis rights to the MN–S government and is committed to entrepreneurial economic development, harm reduction, and housing. When he’s not addressing regional concerns, Ryan relaxes in the kitchen where he employs the cooking skills handed down to him by his grandmother. His speciality? His wild rice dish with a twist.

Born and raised in the Yorkton area, Darcy has considered becoming politically active for quite some time. His successful bid for a spot has earned him the opportunity to now join the MN–S government for the first time. The father of three has a formal teaching degree and spent three years in Indigenous education. After handing the reins of his 30-year successful game farm to his son, Darcy turns his attention to Locals and Regions and intends to find ways to empower Métis citizens to become more active in government. 

Born and raised in Indian Head, Marg Friesen continues to serve her region for the 3rd straight term. As the current Finance and previous Health Minister, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the MN–S government and still feels she has something to offer Métis citizens in the province. While she had kept herself quite busy running her own consulting firm, Marg decided she wanted to take the plunge and enter the political arena. She says her mother had been a proud Knowledge Keeper in their community and would be delighted with the progress the MN–S government has made and the historical journey all Métis citizens in this province are on. Marg doesn’t like to admit she’s a singer and quickly defers to her artistic and creative side with her paintings. Through it all, Marg also found the time to learn how to be a dog musher. 

Billy is the youngest of 11 children, born to Bill and Margaret and raised in North Battleford. He’s been around politics his entire life, having watched his brother represent the Region for many years. The senior-most member of the MN–S government, Billy comes back for his 5th term and says given all his experience, the last 8 years have been particularly progressive for Métis people in Saskatchewan. Billy has a passion for youth sport and as a former sports coordinator, former MN–S Minister of Sports, and avid outdoorsman, he intends to maintain that focus. Over the years, Billy has fostered more than 150 children while also spending time with his own, blended family of 5. Here’s a Riel fun fact: Billy – has been to Back to Batoche Days – 35 times.

Representative Sherry McLennan was born, raised and continues to live in Prince Albert, SK. Coming from the bloodlines of Vandale, McLennan, Henry, Fiddler, Ross, Parenteau - straight from the Batoche traditional land. Sherry is a single mother who has two biological boys (Brendan and Kreedan), an adoptive daughter Rihanna and a daughter Zeanna she has had in her care for 11 years. As a child, she remembers many trips to Batoche to visit relatives on the farm with her grandparents, and yearly camping trips to Back to Batoche days. To this day, she cherishes those memories and continues to build more with family each year at the festival.

Beverly Fullerton is a proud Métis woman originally from Duck Lake, Saskatchewan, now living in Saskatoon. A mother of seven and kokum to two grandsons, she draws strength from family, community, and culture. Her educational background combines lived experience with formal learning in Indigenous Social Work, community advocacy, harm reduction, and restorative justice. Over the past decade, Beverly has led grassroots advocacy and governance work, including roles within MN–S senior leadership and justice reform.

She first became involved with MN–S in 2018 and has since worked to build a transparent, accountable, citizen-led government. Beverly believes deeply in community-led decision-making and the power of a government rooted in Métis values. She continues to advocate for constitutional reform, support Local-level leadership, and ensure programs reflect the realities and strengths of Métis families. Her motivation remains simple and powerful: to create a stronger future for her children, grandchildren, and generations to come.

"Louis Riel went to jail for fighting for our future—I did time for surviving my past. Now I sit at leadership tables, unashamed and unafraid, carrying both stories with me."

Brent Digness comes from a humble Métis background, where he learned at a young age, the importance of economic development, and recognized how tourism is directly linked to this. At the age of 12, Brent was fortunate to have a mentor in Clarence Campeau, and learned then, the shortfalls and needs of Métis citizens. Many conversations around Tourism and Economic Development took place during his mentorship.

At 17, Brent entered the welding trade and went onto a successful career in the industry. He strived to achieve excellence as a ‘high pressure’ welder in the oil patch, while operating a quality assured, quality controlled, welding company. From his accomplishments, Brent developed many skills that enhance his former role as Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. He takes great pride in being a member of the Provincial Métis Council he looks forward to working for his Region and other Métis entrepreneurs on their road to success. 

The mother of 3 begins her 3rd term with the MN–S government with the same determination she did 8 years ago, to increase engagement among Métis citizens and continue to strengthen programs and services to support Métis families. Loretta began her life in politics to honour her ancestors and those who’ve laid the path to self-determination before her. She hopes to inspire youth to be the government successors and continue to add to the foundation that been built in this province. In her down time, she loves to sing, having started at the age of 5. She picked up the guitar shortly after and has never looked back. The MN–S Child and Family Services Minister has performed the Métis National Anthem at more than a few government functions. Her band is in high demand, and she continues to perform in her spare time.

Leonard Montgrand was born and raised in Buffalo Narrows. The neighbouring community of Buffalo Narrows was always like a second home to him, so when he relocated at the age of 36, he quickly settled in. He and his wife Edith have two children, a 25-year-old son and a 19-year-old daughter.

His father, John, had a penchant for politics and without initially knowing it, so too, did Leonard. When Video Lottery Terminals (VLT’s) led to individuals losing their homes in Buffalo, he stepped in, gathered enough support, was instrumental in forcing a plebiscite - and the machines were removed.

For the past 10 years, Leonard has been the Executive Director of the La Loche Friendship Centre and is now serving his third term with the Métis Nation–Saskatchewan government. He assumes the Northern Affairs and Emergency Management portfolio.

Riel fun fact: Just ask him, Leonard is always open to talking about his hockey career with Boston…….Pizza that is, in La Loche.

Rachael is a proud Métis from Saskatoon and a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Education. Early in her career, she discovered a passion for land-based learning and the power of connecting education to culture, story, and place.

Guided by a strong sense of belonging and responsibility to her people, Rachael’s work focuses on building relationships, empowering youth, and fostering community through collaboration and cultural connection. She believes leadership is about lifting others, creating mentorship opportunities, supporting succession planning, and ensuring the knowledge of Elders continues to guide future generations.

In all that they do, Rachael strives to create spaces where Métis youth feel seen, supported, and connected to each other, to their culture, and to the land that sustains them. Her dream is that every young Métis person knows their Nation is here for them and that they carry a deep sense of belonging wherever they go.