Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River makes history with all Aboriginal slate

Lawrence Joseph firmly believes that for changes to come about, Aboriginal people need to get directly involved in conventional politics at all levels. The federal riding of Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River  was a prime example of just that happening.

“The quality of candidates was extremely high,” said Joseph, who carried the banner for the New Democratic Party. ”I was very pleased with the people who ran in the sense that they believed in their mission.”

When the final vote came on the May 2 election, Joseph finished a close second to Conservative incumbent Rob Gordon Clarke. Joseph recorded 44 per cent of the popular vote while Clarke brought in 48 per cent.

“If the real popular vote was used, I would have won. A lot of people who weren’t allowed to vote were supporters of mine,” said Joseph. He claimed that Elders and homeless, unable to provide utility bills with their names and addresses, were turned away from the polling stations.

“Since the Conservatives introduced this baloney style of election, they’ve taken away the legal right to vote from the marginalized people,” said Joseph.

An issue like this, he said, is why more Aboriginal people need to get involved.  But Canada’s history makes it difficult, he added. Residential schools, which forced assimilation and abuse upon Aboriginal children and their families, is one example of what pushes First Nations, Métis and Inuit people away from the system. Turning band chiefs into financial administrators of federal government funding instead of full decision-makers lends to the view that Aboriginals are wards of the state instead of full partners.

But desperation may be the incentive that led to over 30 Aboriginal candidates, a record number, in this federal election.

 “The attitude has changed in the extent that we’ve talked about our relationship with the Crown under treaty, talked about our relationship with Canada based on the constitution, however … we haven’t moved an inch.  We seem to always want to react to things done against Aboriginal people. Now the intention for me is to get in there, to cut them off at the pass,” said Joseph.

Joseph said he has been approached by supporters and asked to run again in four or five years for the NDP, which formed the official opposition under leader Jack Layton. Joseph said it is a strong possibility.

Rounding out the slate for the Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River riding were George Morin for the Green Party and Gabe Lafond for Liberals.

Speaking after the election, National Chief Shawn Atleo, Assembly of First Nations, singled out the northern Saskatchewan riding as a notable achievement.

“The overall point for me to reflect on is the overall participation by First Nations, Métis and Inuit people,” said Atleo.

A record seven Aboriginals took office in Ottawa, with two, incumbent Leona Aglukkak and newly elected Peter Penashue, appointed to Cabinet.

Whether Aboriginal issues are carried forward more strongly on the shoulders of the seven Aboriginal MPs depends on what they wish to accomplish, said Joseph, who noted that having Aboriginal colleagues doesn’t necessarily make Clarke’s job easier
“It depends on his attitude. It depends if it’s a career. I don’t believe anybody is a good representative if they forget about their constituents,” said Joseph.

Atleo contends that making change happen needs to go further than lobbying the Aboriginal members.

“We’ve got to reach out to them and all their Parliamentary colleagues now. It’s no different than what we were doing up until the writ was dropped,” said Atleo.