A Voice for Our People
How often do you show up to vote?
Since 1960, the Canadian Government has allowed First Nations people to vote in federal elections. But how many of us feel like it wouldn’t make any difference?
In this upcoming election on October 19th, several First Nations candidates bring a new reason to cast your ballot and make sure that Aboriginal voices are being heard.
Carleen runs for NDP
Tseil-Waututh member, Carleen Thomas, is the new NDP candidate for the North Vancouver Riding. Carleen grew up around politics, learning from her grandfather John L. George, hereditary chief and elected chief of the Tseil-Waututh Nation (TWN) for many years. Today she is carrying on his mission of finding a way for everyone to co-exist together.
Carleen feels that the NDP values are closest to her own. She is family-oriented and the community
Leah George-Wilson
is of strong importance. “I never thought of myself as a politician, but I care about the people in North Vancouver, and the future of the City. I believe in the equality of all Canadians, and we have to find a way to co-exist by forging stronger relationships between the City and First Nations.”
Carleen served as a TWN Councillor for 13 years and is project manager of Inter-governmental Relations for the TWN Sacred Trust Initiative, opposing the expansion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline. With roots in the Burrard Inlet area going back thousands of years, she believes it is our sacred duty to protect our land and water for future generations.
Let’s show up this time and choose our government representatives to speak for us. Who will you vote for?
Fran says she can
Fran Hunt-Jinnouchi
Former Quatsino Nation chief Fran Hunt-Jinnouchi is the Green Party candidate for the sprawling Cowichan-Malahat-Langford riding. Some analysts have forecasted a good chance for her as the three main parties split the vote in one of the up-for-grabs ridings on Vancouver Is-land. She was one of the first candidates to begin campaigning and published her first ad in The Sentinel in early summer.
A successful Langford business owner, Fran holds a bachelor degree in social work, a masters degree in adult education and has completed the coursework for a doctorate in philosophy, focusing on education psychology and leadership studies). She was also the inaugural director of the Office of Indigenous Affairs at the University of Victoria.
Brenda is a Green
Brenda Sayers
Brenda Sayers of Hu-pacasath nation, for the Green Party, will be going up against John Duncan in this new riding.
She has been the financial administrator at Haahuupayak School since 1996. Brenda recently gained a national reputation her fight to force Canada to overturn a trade treaty with China.
A Carver’s Partner
Rachel Blaney
Rachel Blaney, NDP, is a former employment officer for Homalco and now is executive director of the Immigrant Welcome Centre in Campbell River. She is also given a good chance at victory since MP John Duncan decided to run in the new Courtenay-Alberni riding.
In the background at Rachel Blaney’s NDP campaign stops in the North Island-Powell River riding is her husband Darren, often working away on a carving. He is the former chief and a current councillor at Homal
co First Nation.
