Monday made history for First Nations voters.
While voter turnout by demographic hasn’t officially been released,initial numbers suggest voting was up by 20 percent in some ridings.
The election also saw two record highs- 10 Aboriginal MPs elected to the House of Commons, and 54 candidates running for office.
“They need to be in parliament, they need to be in the Legislature in Victoria, they need to be in their respective City Halls,” says Carrier Sekani Tribal Chief Terry Teegee. “Without having our voices heard in those buildings, change is not going to happen, so I was really pleased to see an increase of Aboriginal MPs in the House of Commons.”
Both Prince George ridings had First Nations candidates, as the Cariboo-Prince George NDP candidate Trent Derrick is a member of the Gitxsan First Nation, Green candidate Richard Jaques is a member of Manitoba’s Poplar River First Nation, and the Prince George-Peace River’s Kathie Dickie serves as a Fort Nelson First Nation chief.
It was representation like this that convinced Teegee to cast his first ballot in a federal election.
“One of the reasons I registered to vote was that First Nations are seeking a closer relationship with the federal government, and the Conservative government wouldn’t come to the table and acknowledge that we have rights and titles, nor would they meet with us to discuss our issues. So what do we do? We needed to change governments, so hopefully the Liberals will come to the table and talk about these outstanding issues.”
Teegee isn’t the only First Nations leader to change his mind about voting federally, as Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde scrapped his decision to remain non-partisan.
“Last week, I listened to First Nations elders, leaders, citizens and young people from across our territories,” Bellegarde stated online. “The message to me is consistent and clear: ‘It is vital that First Nations voices be heard in every way possible, including through the ballot box. You need to be an example. You need to vote.'”
Voter turnout among First Nations people was so high, several reserves across Canada reported running out of ballots early on in the evening.
All in all, it sounded like the Country would see the change many were thirsty for.
And with the new party in power, Teegee hopes to see Justin Trudeau follow through with a number of promises.
“Right off the bat, I think the issue of the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline can be achieved immediately, to kill the project. Within the next few months, he said he’ll initiate an inquiry into missing and murdered women, and to adopt an act against violence to indigenous women.”
Trudeau committed to an inquiry at least within his first 100 days in office, and also promised to consult in the three months leading up to the inquiry, and to focus on justice, healing and ending violence.
Last spring, he also promised to implement all 94 recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on residential schools, and said he would increase the funding for First Nations schools by an amount surpassing the $1.4-billion (over three years) that was allocated, but never given out by the Conservatives.
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