Getting out the Indigenous vote biggest battle in election

International Chief and former MP Wilton Littlechild understands why some First Nations members don’t vote in federal elections. But with at least six Aboriginal candidates in Alberta, Littlechild thinks it’s time to get out the Aboriginal vote – all of it.

“In terms of trying to seek change and make a better Canada, I think it’s a good opportunity,” said Littlechild, who served as Conservative MP for the riding of Wetaskiwin from 1988 to 1993.

Former Regional Chief for the Assembly of First Nations Cameron Alexis agrees with Littlechild.  Alexis is one of five

New Democratic Party candidates. 

“In the past 10 years, Mr. Harper, by introducing numerous bills in the House, has whittled away at our treaty rights. At some point we all have to stand up and say, ‘Hey, we either participate in the decision-making in this country … or we sit back.’ So I chose to step it up for all my people and for the interest of all Canadians,” said Alexis, who is one of six candidates in the newly redrawn riding of Peace River-Westlock.

What swayed Alexis to run for the NDP was former leader Jack Layton’s practise to sit with Aboriginal people in the House of Commons gallery. Mulcair has not only kept that channel of communication open, says Alexis, but he has been the most vocal leader in pushing Indigenous issues, reiterating his commitment to call for a national inquiry into murdered and missing Indigenous women and unveiling a policy that aims to curb violence against Aboriginal women.

For Melody Lepine, who recently got the NDP nod for the riding of Fort McMurray-Cold Lake, the NDP’s consistent stand against C-51, the anti-terrorism law, which “is weakening our fundamental rights and freedoms and that should be a very big concern for First Nations as we often like to be vocal about our issues” is one factor that drew her to the party. She also appreciates the NDP’s commitment to affordable housing and protecting the environment.

To date, Garry Parenteau is the only Aboriginal candidate to run under the Liberal banner. It was Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, who first waded into Indigenous issues during this election campaign when he pledged $2.6 billion in new funding for First Nations education. Parenteau, who is Métis, is taking on another Métis candidate, Duane Zaraska, who is running for the NDP, in Lakeland. It is the only riding to have two Aboriginal candidates.

Lepine isn’t concerned that the NDP and Liberals will split the left-leaning vote and allow the Conservatives to remain in power.

“No, I see a distinction between the Liberals and NDP on issues,” she said. “The NDP definitely has a strong platform addressing a lot of issues and matters that are definitely a concern to not only First Nations and Aboriginal people but Canadians in general.”

The AFN has selected 51 ridings across the country in which Aboriginal voters can make a difference. In Alberta, the AFN has tagged the newly-drawn Edmonton-Griesbach, which includes Edmonton’s inner city with its high concentration of Aboriginal people. There is no Aboriginal candidate in that riding.

Alexis is not surprised that the AFN has chosen only one riding in Alberta.

“Our Aboriginal people do not come out in force to vote in a federal election,” he said.

Lepine is disappointed that her riding, with approximately 17 per cent of eligible voters of Aboriginal descent including her home First Nation of the Mikisew Cree, was not noted by the AFN.

“They want to see Stephen Harper gone and … I think they’re starting to realize now how important and urgent their vote really is. They’re going to make a difference,” said Lepine, who has been helping First Nation voters on reserves and the homeless in urban centres get the necessary documentation to be counted at the polls. Lepine is up against Conservative incumbent David Yurdiga.

Getting out the Aboriginal vote will be a challenge, says Littlechild.

“There’s still a division of opinion on that in the sense that there are some people who say this is not our government so we have no business participating in it or voting in a federal election. And others who say this is really the way we can make change, to go into the arena and participate directly in that particular arena, to try and promote change,” he said.

Other Aboriginal candidates seeking seats for the NDP are Aaron Paquette in Edmonton-Manning and Fritz Kathryn Bitz in Edmonton-Wetaskiwin.

In the 2011 federal election, Alberta had five Aboriginal candidates – three NDP, one Liberal and one Green - running in 28 electoral districts. None were successful. The redrawing of boundaries increased Alberta’s ridings to 34.

Voters go to the polls on Oct. 19.

Photo caption: Winning big on the international stage! Enoch Cree Nation woman Ashley (Callingbull) Burnham became the first Canadian and first First Nation’s woman to be crowned Mrs. Universe. She took the title at the pageant in Belarus on Aug. 29. Said Burnham, 25, on her Facebook page, “Representing First Nations on the international stage was the best feeling in the world. I’m so proud to be Mrs. Universe 2015.” In the national outfit parade of the competition, Burnham wore a jingle dress in white and red, prominently displaying maple leafs, and for the talent competition, she wore a buckskin dress and performed a traditional dance. Burnham is an actress, model and former Miss Universe Canada contestant.