Born and raised in Indian Head, Mannie Amyotte is a proud Métis man and a member of SGEU’s Crown Sector.

Mannie currently works as a contract administrator for Living Skies Housing Authority in Regina. As an agency of the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation, Living Skies provides technical support for Saskatchewan Housing’s assets throughout the provincial housing network. Mannie’s position sees him looking after new builds, major renovations, and large projects.

A carpenter by trade, Mannie had worked in the field for around 30 years before taking a property manager position with Namerind Housing Corporation, an Indigenous housing provider. When he saw an opportunity for a housing inspector at Living Skies, he applied. That position eventually led to his current contract administration role.

According to Mannie, the best part of the job is the people he serves.

“We serve a population of people who require affordable housing. Most of my career has been involved in that. I worked at Valley View Centre, which was a facility for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities; Namerind Housing, serving the Indigenous community; and now with Living Skies working with people who live in Saskatchewan Housing Corporation’s housing units.”

Valley View Centre is also where Mannie first became involved in a union.

“I was a rep, steward, and OHC member. Once I came to Living Skies, they needed stewards and union reps, so I put my name forward. That turned into steward, bargaining chair, and now I sit on the Indigenous Committee for SGEU and am the alternate Indigenous Vice-President.

“I’ve always been a union activist and believed in unions, the benefits they supply, and that they’re looking after the worker.”

“It is all about the advocacy for me. Words only go so far, and I believe that SGEU has made impactful inroads to having Indigenous language and hiring policies in our contracts.”

When it comes to Truth and Reconciliation, Mannie said SGEU does a respectable job of keeping truth and reconciliation front and center at Convention and union functions. He highlighted the importance of supporting words with action.

“It is all about the advocacy for me. Words only go so far, and I believe that SGEU has made impactful inroads to having Indigenous language and hiring policies in our contracts.”

He also noted that SGEU has done a decent job of going through the Indigenous Committee to get their input on issues affecting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis members.

“With our Indigenous Committee, the model we have is ‘for Indigenous, by Indigenous.’ That, concisely, means that we like to be consulted on anything that affects Indigenous members in SGEU.”

Mannie is passionate about the role of a union member, and he expressed that members should get involved wherever possible.

“Get involved. Figure out a way to have your name put forward. The union is very inclusive when it comes to people from different walks of life. Once you get involved, you will find, as I did, a passion for serving other people. “

He added that Indigenous members should not hesitate to step forward.

“Do not have any fear about putting your name forward and letting it stand, as Indigenous people we have a great deal to offer in the union environment when it comes to cultural knowledge and practices. There is a lot that we can offer for the greater good.

“I love our union, I love the people, and it is an honour to represent the Métis community—and Indigenous community in general—by serving our union. To anyone who can serve in any kind of role, there is a benefit to being in service to people.”