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Candidates Court First Nations Voters
But one native prof scorns voting at all, calling it a ‘smiling high five’ to oppressors.
“They used to bring candy, but now they don’t,” says Glen Williams, hereditary chief of the Gitanyow First Nation in Northern British Columbia of candidates on the provincial campaign trail.
As a child he was dazzled by the goodies, but now if a candidate wants to impress his nation, Williams says they’d have bring something far more substantial — like respect and certainty for his people and their land.
Aboriginal people make up 15 per cent of the population of 10 northern ridings as diverse as the Cariboo, Peace River, Skeena and Prince George. In some constituencies like the vast North Coast, which encompasses far flung places like Bella Bella, the Nass Valley and Haida Gwaii, the percentage reaches to 40. The Bulkley Valley-Stikine also has a high percentage, at 20 and includes the territory of the Gitxsan, Wet’suwet’en, Lake Babine and the Tahltan.
What does a vote really say?
Although Elections BC doesn’t trace the ethnicity of registered voters so there are no exact statistics, anecdotal evidence says First Nations aren’t coming out to vote in droves.
But as Alexandra Macqueen, a communications and government relations consultant based in Toronto, noticed in the aftermath of the 2004 federal election, there was plenty of ink spilled in Aboriginal circles on how much their vote matters or whether voting is just another form of being sucked into “the white man’s game.”
Taiaiake Alfred, a Mohawk who teaches in the Indigenous governance program at UVIC is particularly outspoken when it comes to Indian people participating in federal and provincial elections.
“An Indian giving a vote to a political candidate in a Canadian election is the same thing as giving an “OK” and smiling high five to the whole system that’s been created to control us and take away our rights,” he said in a June 2004 article.
Radical notions aside, since the 2001 election, Elections BC has hired an aboriginal liaison officer to help encourage First Nations to at least register to vote. Sonya Payne of Lax Kw’Alaams, a community near Prince Rupert, has been contacting friendship centres and aboriginal organizations across the province to build relationships and send voter registration information to since last November.
She is passionate about giving everyone a chance to vote.
“It is our voice. . . It is your chance to say something with your vote.”
She has been handing out information packages at events across the province, including the February all-native basketball tournament in Prince Rupert, which brought in teams from around the province.
Wooing First Nations
Candidates in two ridings with the highest aboriginal population have been doing their own work to engage First Nation constituents in the upcoming election.
In the Bulkley-Valley Stikine, NDP candidate Doug Donaldson, is a newcomer to provincial politics, but a longtime resident and municipal councilor in Old Hazelton in the heart of Gitxsan territory.
He says aboriginal people comprise 80 per cent of the population in his immediate area and his campaign office is mobilizing to get people who haven’t participated before to come out to vote.
Of course, he is hoping these people will vote for him, but he also thinks it’s important to simply engage people in the political process.
Research undertaken by his office suggests there is quite a difference between the numbers of those who are eligible to vote and those from first nation villages who actually voted in the last election.
Donaldson says that, along with a high first nations population, Hazelton has two times the provincial average of those under 30. His team is specifically targeting young aboriginal voters.
“I’ve talked to a number of people who have registered since they found out I was a candidate,” he says.
Bill Belsey, the Liberal party incumbent in the North Coast riding suggests making relationships is the most important part of engaging the First Nation vote. He says over the last four years he has made an effort to visit all of the communities in his riding.
He has even taken cabinet ministers to tiny communities like Hartley Bay, Lax Kw’Alaams (Port Simpson) and Kincolith, some of which had never had such a visit before.
Top issues: jobs, cut services
In terms of specifically addressing First Nation concerns in his campaign, Belsey suggests that the issues change over the diverse landscape he represents.
But both Belsey and Donaldson agree the major concerns about jobs and the economy in the north are the same, whether voters are first nations or not.
But while Belsey maintains his government’s policies, especially those to do with revenue sharing forest agreements and community forests, will help him win the first nations vote, Donaldson is struck by people’s ongoing anger over loss of services in the north, due to Liberal policies.
Rural areas have been particularly hard hit by cuts to hospitals, schools and government services says Donaldson, even though these same areas bring in 70 per cent of new revenue to the province.
“It is amazing how angry people are … People are impoverished and they are having to go further to get the services that people elsewhere in BC are able to find around the corner or down the block.,” he says.
Rising unrest; bitter memories
But the question remains whether recent uprisings, litigation and general unrest over the rate of speed of settling land use issues in Indian territory will have any effect on the results of the May 17 election.
The Haida, supported by non-native residents of Haida Gwaii, have effectively stopped Weyerhaueser from logging on Graham Island for the last two weeks by blocking logging roads.
In Tahltan territory, a group of elders have occupied their Telegraph Creek band office since January 17 to protest the pace of development in their traditional territory and the leadership of Chief Jerry Asp.
And in Bella Bella and Klemtu, Heiltsuk and Kitasoo have driven away commercial fishermen and set up a no fishing zone to protect the herring on roe fishery.
Former NDP cabinet minister and representative for Prince George-Mount Robson Paul Ramsey thinks the uprising on Haida Gwaii, where natives and non-natives alike are calling for more community control and sustainable logging practices, could form the basis for widespread action against the policies of the Liberal government.
But someone would have to take the lead and mobilize around it, not an easy task he says.
He also notes the blunder made by the Liberals in 2002 when they, as Ramsey put it, asked the majority to decide on minority rights. The lead-up to the $4 million Treaty Referendum saw First Nations and non-first nations coming together to burn ballots in protest, or simply refuse to vote.
The Toronto-based Citizens for Public Justice said that 75 per cent of voters in BC either register a no vote or boycotted the process.
“There are still no treaties,” says Ramsey. “The Campbell government has not dealt with this issue honorably.”
Donaldson admits there is an underlying bitterness about the referendum on the ground in his riding, but it’s not the first thing people mention, unless they are involved in treaty negotiations themselves.
“If it were up to the people living here to come to an agreement on how to live together we would have settled treaties long ago.”
Still awaiting resolution
Chief Williams, who is at the treaty table for the Gitanyow, says that movement on treaties is one of the key issues for his people.
He is willing to accept an incremental treaty process that would bring them baby steps closer to the certainty on land issues his community seeks, but according to Williams they have hit an impasse with the provincial government over governance issues.
He is also waiting for the government to take recent court decisions seriously, and make good on their duty to consult.
“The Ministry of Forests is continuing its activities as if there was no decision by the high courts in this country to engage in consultation and accommodation,” he says.
The Gitanyow have been to court twice now over the transfer of tenure related to the sale and then bankruptcy of New Skeena, and have won each time.
But when asked if he thinks these issues will mobilize his nation to vote in any particular way, he really didn’t think so.
“We had the same problem when the NDP were there and the same problem with the Liberals. There is no difference, their policies are same.”
Heather Ramsay, based in Queen Charlotte City, is a contributing editor to The Tyee. ![[Tyee]](http://thetyee.cachefly.net/ui/img/ico_fishie.png){kind=small}
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17
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Ranbir
7 years ago
Comments on "Candidates Court First Nations Voters"
I do not believe it is appropriate to divide humans into groups such as native vs non-native, religious vs. atheist, us vs. them etc... because according to the human genome project early humans migrated to the Americas on a landbridge over the Bering strait.
The humans on Haida Gwai should be outraged that eco-systems are being destroyed. I have noticed that aboriginal groups are willing to protest when such environmental destruction takes place, maybe because they believe they evolved in that particular eco-system. However the rest of us who have ancestors, who came recently to the Americas do not show any outrage at large scale eco-system destruction, maybe because we don't identify with local eco-systems even though they supply the air, water and much of the local food we need to biologically survive.
I live in Surrey and I wonder, if we had more aboriginal-people maybe there would be greater identification with the local eco-systems and people would be more outraged when mayor McCallum and his S.E.T. councillors clearcut Surrey and put cell-phone towers on local highschools.
BrianWhite
7 years ago
First of all, at the beginning of their reign, the Campbell liberals tore up contracts with hospital workers. They lost all credibility in my eyes when they did that. Civilization is based on the written contract. Any treaty or agreement with the BC Libs, whether native treaty or anything verbal or written is meaningless. There is no point in talking to or voting for them. It is just pure self deception to do so.
But! I will never understand people who don't vote. I am not allowed to vote in BC because I am not a Canadian Citizen.
You might concider yourself a member of your nation and not Canadian but if you dont vote in the election, they might take your land anyway and you will have no voice to the world to cry halt.
Vote for the lesser of the 2 evils if you must, but if you want to exist as a seperate culture and people, you got to be represented. And vote yes in the referendum. It gives a far greater chance of native representation in parliament.
Sue Clark
7 years ago
The NDP is certainly not perfect, but you would never see a racist referendum on treaty negotiations from the NDP. This is a very big difference between the BC Liberals and the NDP. Gordon Campbell's latest recruits are mouthing caring attitudes, but are stepping in for a government that has a record of being out to make the most money for the richest 5% of BC and making the rest of BC pay for it with a variety of service reductions, increased taxes, medical and user fees.
If you want the worst oppressors (the BC Liberals) to win the next election, you can stay home and not vote.
The punisher
7 years ago
Ranbir, Obviously you haven't seen the beer cans strewed along the banks of the Fraser River.
Yammer
7 years ago
Bad Punisher! Don't you have the Chief Seattle poster on your fridge?
Anyway, it's good that this story is covered. Professor Alfred (who scores well from his students, see ratemyprofessors.ca/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=76135) brings the absurdity of aboriginal people's quasi-independent nation status into sharp relief. If this status is oppressive and voting meaningless, then let's do something else.
Tom Lal
7 years ago
First a comment to Rabir. Were you to look around you would note that indeed surrey has a massive aborgianal population. One of the largest in the lower mainland.
It is indeed unfortunate that the author of this article attempts to dismiss comments that raise the issue of First Nations voting. Many first nations people have serious issues and concerns around this issue. Some see themselves as not being Canadians which calls into question this whole issue. Over 2/3 of the Mohawk Nation consistently abstains from Voting in elections. This is a deliberate choice made that stems from their view that as a sovereign people they are not citizens of Canada. Hardly something to be trivialized by a reference to it being a radical notion. But it should be seen as a profound action stemming from firmly held beliefs to be respected. The other issue of course is that many aboriginals feel left out and excluded from society and thus feel little comfort and kinship with our system. Feeling marginalized they too, just don’t bother to vote. Not such and unusual pattern when you look at our general population and its voting patterns. Apathy is everywhere it seems.
As an aboriginal Canadians my feelings on this issue are much different than my first nations cousins. I tend to think we should learn the system and become massively involved as have other groups in our country. In fact in some cases member of the aboriginal community have played important roles in politcs. From Louis Riel being elected to the house of commons, to Elijah Harper who played such a pivotal role in Meach lake to Malcolm Norris a Metis leader and one of the founders of the CCF, which of course grew to becoming the present NDP. However despite my feelings I see it as essential to respect the feelings of many first nations people on this important issue. It is not a view I believe many Aboriginal people have arrived at lightly
chita
7 years ago
I agree with both Brian White and Sue Clark on this one. The First Nations may feel marginalized by mainstream Canadian society (and I know how they feel because I grew up in an Indian Residential School in an era when absolutely nobody cared about our human rights) but abstaining from voting merely ensures that your voice will never be heard. The 2002 referendum was needless and mean-spirited but we were not the only targets of this small-minded government;the provincial Liberals have shown what they think of 95% of the people in this province,so the 95% of us should show them what we think of them in return by turfing them out before they finish selling off the province.
The punisher
7 years ago
Yammer wrote: "Bad Punisher! don't you have the Chief Seattle poster on your fridge?" - Nope Yammy, at least I don't think so. My fridge is lying out on my beach-front ecosystem ....
The Punisher
dearpremier.ca
7 years ago
Jean Binette writes:
Sue Clark Are you just angry with "(the BC Liberals)" because your broke?
dearpremier.ca
7 years ago
Jean Binette writes:
Sue Clark Are you just angry with "(the BC Liberals)" because you're broke?
Aargh
7 years ago
Interesting article Heather. It's definitely a matter of making issues (and provincial politics) relevant to First Nations up here in the North and not just having candidates 'woo' them with candy. In the current climate, many issues facing First Nations are also being faced by other northern residents (loss of public sector jobs, loss of services - especially to health care, raw log exports - both loss of jobs and negative enviro impacts, mega-corporate take-overs of the forest industry, uncertainties with land claims not settled, etc.). Anger against the Liberals? There's plenty of it. We just have to get people out to the polls and voting on May 17 in these sparse ridings - both First Nations and other northern residents - and somehow get accountable politicians who don't run with made-in-the-Lower-Mainland policies but actually make it relevant again to Northerners.
Go Doug go!
North of Hope
7 years ago
Walking Eagle
Gordon Campbell was invited to address a major gathering of the Indian Nation last weekend in Kitimat,. He spoke for almost an hour on his future plans for increasing everyÂ* First Nation's present standard of living. He referred to his career as Mayor of Vancouver, how he had signed "YES" - for every Indian issue that came to his desk for approval.
At the conclusion of his speech, the Tribe presented the Premier with a plaque inscribed with his new Indian name - Walking Eagle. The proud Campbell then departed in his motorcade, waving to the crowds.
A news reporter later inquired to the group of chiefs of how they came to select the new name given to Campbell. They explained that Walking Eagle is the name given to a bird so full of shit it can no longer fly.
Sue Clark
7 years ago
Under Gordon Campbell there is NO democracy. He does not care what the people of BC think. And Jean ,it does not matter if I have money or not. The BC Liberals ignore the people of BC and use a pack of detailed lies to tell us how great life is under their government. How could he care about First Nations' issues? Gordon Campbell's philosophy is that we are all equal and there are no First Nations issues.
Anne
7 years ago
Well, I see that having to use our real names to get onto the comments list has not curbed obnoxious comments at all! I'm not complaining, mind you, because, as I said before, I think people on this list do a good job of refuting the opinions of the idiots, and I don't care one way or another about anonymity for myself. I just wonder what the point was. We seem to have lost hombre with this change, which I think is too bad, and I wonder why, because I recall people sometimes addressing him by what I assume is his real name anyway. And, though Truman Green has posted a couple of times since the new rules, we haven't heard from him lately. Since he was against anonymity, I presume that he's simply gone on vacation or something.
Jeffrey J.
7 years ago
Once again, kudos to the Tyee for this article. This is the kind of thoughtful analysis of an issue that BC will one day have to face, whether some like it or not. This kind of piece should be on page one or two of a mainstream media newspaper. Regularly. It would create discussion, opinion, reflection. People would have differing views. But politicians would hear about this issue. It would be relevant and sooner or later, specific steps would be taken in the Legislature to ameliorate matters. More First Nation members would be elected. More partnerships would follow. It's all acheivable. Interestingly, of the many business people I meet, most are impatient at the Campbell government's refusal to get on with resolving First Nations issues. So in this case at least, it is not the business community that is avoiding the issue, but the racist component of the Liberal party. More's the pity. Thanks again Tyee for being a voice of diversity and rationality.
kenmo
7 years ago
Punisher: who is it you would punish? And what do the beer cans have to do with it.
North of Hope: Thanks for the wonderful "Walking Eagle" anecdote. ROTFLMAO
As for the article, good one. While I can certainly understand the position taken by Taiaiake Alfred on participating in what appears to be a "White Man's election", I don't think it's an effective strategy overall, though it may have some short-term utility in raising awareness. There are better ways to accomplish that IMHO.
There's no getting around the fact that the indegenous population of "Turtle Island" (Google it ;-) has certainly had an extremely rough ride since 1492. They deserve better...
BrianWhite
7 years ago
I sent "walking eagle" to all my friends. Hope you all do.
What a cartoon walking eagle might be!
If Campbell ever turns dictator for life, it can be the symbol of the resistance. Or might he have it on his BC flag?
Anyway, if you do have a sincere belief in abstaining from voting, how about taking part in the referendum and not voting in the election? Even in the worst senario in STV, (A 2 seat riding) you get represented in parliament if you have just over a third of the vote. That means that, if things get badder, natives can defend their interests in parliament. And for those urban populations, a native candidate can win on a single issue (if the issue is seen as serious enough by natives). (because urban ridings are going to be 5 or 6 seaters).
I believe that, and this goes for all minoritys, you owe it to yourselves to vote yes. The current system allows the largest minority (and they dont have to even approach being a majority) to stuff their beliefs and laws down our throaths whether we object or not. STV is more like the real world. Compromise is normal in the real world, STV will make rule by consensus more normal in bc. So, please give yourself the option of a meaningful voice in politics (even if you never intend to use it).