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According to Elections Canada, only 44.8 per cent of First Nations people living at home (on-reserve) voted in the 2011 federal election, as opposed to 61 per cent of the general population in Canada. As vice president of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council and a member of Tseshaht First Nation, one of the 14 Nuu-chah-nulth Nations on the west coast of Vancouver Island, I believe it’s my responsibility to encourage members in these mostly remote communities to get out and vote.
It wasn’t until 1949 that the provincial government “granted” our people the right to vote. And First Nations (Indian) people were not allowed to vote in Canada’s federal elections until as recently as 1960. Before then, First Nations voters had to give up their “Indian Status” to become Canadian citizens to vote in federal elections.
Many of our people and leaders from our communities fought for the right to vote so we could have a say in our future and what happens in this province and country. Because of their efforts, we now have the right to vote.
Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council President Debra Foxcroft and I feel that it is so important for First Nations to exercise that right that we’ve committed to drive eligible voters to the polls on Election Day in Port Alberni (a city in one of Canada’s swing ridings) and to the advanced polls.
Nuu-chah-nulth people can help determine the outcome of the election. All three ridings in Nuu-chah-nulth territory — Courtenay-Alberni, North Island-Powell River and Cowichan-Malahat-Langford — are swing ridings where the Aboriginal vote can change the outcome. If we vote, our votes will count and make a difference, potentially to which party forms the next government of Canada.
I urge all First Nations across Canada to vote today October 19. In our communities along Vancouver’s west coast we have many issues that need to be addressed related to fisheries, education, employment, children and families. I know we are not alone in this.
Let’s make sure that the 2015 federal election goes down as a game changer for First Nations across Canada.
Ken Watts is the vice president of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council.
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