Ballot choices include more Aboriginal candidates

When Saskatchewan voters go to the polls on Nov. 7 they will have a record number of Aboriginal candidates to consider as their provincial members.

“We’re ready to take our place in the province. We’re becoming more informed in terms of the issues, and Saskatchewan legislation affects us,” said Jennifer Campeau, Saskatoon Fairview candidate for the Saskatchewan Party.  Campeau’s father is Métis and her mother First Nation. “So I think we would like to be at the table as well.”

The Saskatchewan Party is fielding five Aboriginal candidates in 58 ridings.

“I’d like to give a perspective that hasn’t been there before,” said Campeau.

Almost one-fifth of the New Democratic Party’s slate is Aboriginal.  The Official Opposition has 11 Aboriginal candidates, including two Métis incumbent MLAs, Doyle Vermette (Cumberland) and Buckley Belanger (Athabasca). Dale Schmeichel, NDP provincial secretary and campaign manager, is pleased with the number of Aboriginal candidates his party has attracted, but said appealing to Aboriginals is not new for his party.

 “We’re very proud to try and get candidates that reflect the demographic profile of the province,” said Schmeichel. “Any number of issues that relate to the needs of ordinary people and to people who to some degree are somewhat marginalized, the New Democratic Party has traditionally had more appeal to such folks and sadly, the significant portion of First Nations and Aboriginal people are in the lower income category.”

Helen Ben, member of the Makwa Sahagiehcan First Nation and former chief of the Meadow Lake Tribal Council, said the “concept of helping people” is one reason she was drawn to the NDP party.

“I feel we need to have a voice. We need to make sure we’re involved in the election. We need to make sure that First Nation issues and Métis issues are brought to the forefront,” said Ben, candidate in Meadow Lake.
Attracting Aboriginal candidates is only one part of the battle, said Schmeichel.

“The percentage of turnout of eligible voters is disappointing in all but a handful of places and we continue to work with Aboriginal leaders … to try and increase that,” he said.

One of the bright spots for Aboriginal voters is Ben’s riding of Meadow Lake. In 2007, the Flying Dust First Nation near Meadow Lake was one of the closest seats in the province. In the last two or three elections, the Flying Dust First Nation had over 80 per cent voter turn out, said Schmeichel.

Both Ben and Campeau said their door-knocking has gone well, with people willing to discuss issues and listen to the candidates.

One of Campeau’s door-to-door campaign teams had the issue of her ancestry raised. About one-quarter of Campeau’s riding is Aboriginal.

“No, I’m not there to represent only First Nation and Métis issues. I’m there to represent all Fairview and Fairview is pretty diverse,” said Campeau.

Ben sees it the same way.

“We need to work together as non-First Nations, First Nations and Métis,” she said.

Ben added that if she doesn’t win her seat, she hopes to have at least educated the population that Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals share common concerns and goals.
“The next best thing would be creating some awareness of the issues and also getting the concept across that we need to work together and that we have common issues,” she said.