Starlight loses leadership race

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Two old adversaries squared off in the political ring on Nov. 27 and when the dust settled, it was Roy Whitney who walked away as chief of the Tsuu T'ina First Nation for another two years.

Despite support from a segment of the community seeking political change, Bruce Starlight was unable to unseat the incumbent chief.

"I ran a good campaign," Starlight said. "I've got nothing to be shy of."

About 480 of the 565 eligible voters in Tsuu T'ina cast their ballots and re-elected Whitney and nine out of 10 incumbent councilors. The election was not the first time Starlight had faced off against Whitney, and it won't be the last. Starlight is still fighting a libel suit brought against him by Whitney last year for criticizing his management of Tsuu T'ina finances.

The criticism was in a letter Starlight wrote to Jane Stewart, Indian Affairs minister, which was leaked to Whitney's office. Starlight won a small victory when a gag order that prevented him from speaking about the matter was lifted earlier this fall.

Starlight is associated with the Reform Party and supported by the Committee Against Injustices to Natives. Starlight said his defeat at the polls is only a minor setback in the campaign to make First Nations chiefs and councils accountable to their communities.

"We're not going to quit," Starlight said. "It's just a minor problem in our way. I think the bigger picture is still worth fighting for."

Much of Starlight's support came, not only from community members who are dissatisfied with Whitney, but also from a group of young families forced to move into the deserted Canadian Forces Harvie Barracks. The move onto the army base was brought about by a lack of housing on the reserve.

"Those people supported me," Starlight said. "Across the reserve some of the older families, some of the traditional thinkers, were the ones who supported me."

Starlight said the Creator has invested everyone with the ability to change and he hopes there is still a possibility that Whitney is capable of change and becomes more responsive to the needs of the community.

Starlight should be happy to hear that Whitney and the council did meet with community members after the election. Whitney said he plans to involve the people in the administration of the reserve through community workshops.

"I think the community has to be first and foremost," Whitney said.

Peter Many Wounds, Tsuu T'ina administration spokesman, said the fact that Whitney and the incumbent councilors were re-elected should send a strong message to any dissatisfied community members.

"The community, by a fairly large majority, is generally quite pleased with the way things are going," Many Wounds said.

Although Starlight has accepted the decision of the majority, he's afraid of reprisals by the chief and council against him, his family and the people who supported him in his challenge to Whitney's leadership.

"I see them coming against my family in any way they can," Starlight said. "I'm expecting it. This is just the lull before the storm."