Indigenous Vote Alberta

When Indigenous volunteers were overseas, they were treated equally, including being able to vote. The Military Voters Act of 1917 gave one-time franchise to a...ll who served in the Great War, including Indigenous people, a right they didn’t have back home in Canada until 1960. https://www.theglobeandmail.com//article-on-the-front-lin/

Via Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary: Oki, due to the requested number of candidates wanting to join our Forum. Efry Calgary has added 2 more spaces to increase the candidate participation to 10. Remember this is the largest First Nation election taking place on the largest Indigenous reserve in Canada!!!... Here are our participants: Councillor - Lance Tailfeathers Councillor - Robin Little Bear Councillor - Joanne Blood-Lemieux Chief Candidate - Lee Anne Healy - Johnson Candidate - Rita Calf Candidate - Clarence Blackwater (Rumpa) Candidate - Tania Black Plume Candidate - Laverne Wells Inbox Messenger Bren Little Light or Winifred Storm to those candidates who are interested.

The UCP Caucus voting against the amendment for the NDP to include Indigenous genocide is actually willful denial of genocide. I call on the UCP government to not just include the term genocide, but also to educate their staff, educate their caucus, and educate their ministers.

Oki niiksokowa, Today is Advance Polls for the Blood Tribe Elections. I am glad that I have another week to think of who I will vote for, as I am still very on ...the fence. Here are my thoughts so far: Chief: I have spoken to only two that are currently running for Chief, not directly but through forum, and have heard their positions and plans for improving the community. The lady running has a strong nursing background and is passionate for Community but I am wondering can these skills translate to Chief leadership? Those that I know that do know her speak highly of her, but respect isn’t enough to convince me to vote. The next candidate is a former councillor and spouts change from corruption, which I can honestly get on the side of this theme, however again does this person contain the qualities of Chief leadership? As I do remember not much was accomplished under their tenure as councillor. Of the three prior Chiefs running I am less than enthused that some of their names are on the ballots, or that they would accept their nominations; The first, and our incumbent, sued the Blood Tribe in 2013 and also received 600K in pension (from 1996-2007) plus a new home (built in Redwood Meadows), another former Chief had much of the Blood lands signed over to his name and I believe was also sued by the tribe, and the third well my disagreement is his alliance with the Conservatives and also under his watch we got fracking on our reserve. I don’t have any info of the other two candidates so I can’t speak to them at all. Councillors: Personally I like some of the candidates, however personal favourite doesn’t always translate to good leadership. I am hoping to see some of the few good councillors voted back in....while a sweep of incoming new voices that can provide new ideas and leadership. I will be supporting those that are educated and articulated to the issues, and also to those that took the time to speak with me (Thank you). I recently did my own online investigation and could also not find any of the Blood Tribe’s Financial information or Audit information, which is an Annual requirement. I could only find BTAP financial statements as a reader, which is also not an audit. Where is our monies going? We as members have a right to these matters. As a voter it matters to me that there has not been Communication to the people. As a voter it matters to me that future Chief and Council meetings be held in public and in full transparency. As a voter it matters that there are not Community Information sessions happening, ever. As a voter it matters to me that we have Leadership that will be affective for All and not just for some, and not just for the land owners. As a voter it matters to me, that even though I am a resident in Calgary that I am well within the Blackfoot Confederacy, and that urban individuals should receive support from our tribe, not just a Xmas dinner (which I am grateful for but other than that what was there?) As a voter it matters to me that our Leadership will protect our sacred lands, that they will value environmentalism over a quick buck. As a voter it matters to me that our Leadership continue to tackle the health crisis in our community but also seek to extinguish the underlaying factors that lead to narcotics and other addictions, which also include gambling, alcoholism and more. As a voter it matters to me that Leadership will help to take down the economic barriers that hinder our people from success; jobs creation, skills training, support for entrepreneurs. I am a hopeful voter. I want the best for our nation. Over the next week I will continue to research and read more and speak to more individuals but I also hope to see: - platforms that actually state how moving forward the notion of change will occur. I am not stating anyone’s names to support, as I don’t want to influence others in their choices, but I am hoping that when voting, our Kainaiwa people vote by the merit of the work and the character of the people. We need new leadership at the Chief level. Kainai vote with good intentions for our people as a whole. K’yun. PS: all that was referenced to in this is in legal document found online, not gossip or slander, real bonafide truth.

one day when their grandchildren have no water to drink or no land to grow food on maybe they’ll change their mind then.