Hundreds gathered at the Standing Buffalo First Nation on Sunday for a pow wow celebrating indigenous culture, but with the federal election drawing near, the celebration wasn’t the only consideration.
Keith Tacan made the trip from Sioux Valley, Manitoba. He hopes indigenous people will also leave their communities in October to go to the voting booths.
“It would really help our people out a lot more,” Tacan told CTV News, “Instead of sitting around and doing nothing about it, you can get out and vote.”
Other at the pow wow feel that regardless of the outcome of the election, the needs of First Nations peoples aren’t made a priority. There are only 35 First Nations candidates running in the election.
“It’s like the rest of Canada isn’t concerned about First Nation’s issues,” Deon Hassler, the President of the Saskatchewan First Nations Veterans Association said Sunday, “The only way we’re going to be able to get anything done about First Nations issues is by having our people in political positions.”
Tacan believes that many First Nations communities have trouble seeing the importance of voting, because the impact of residential schools still haunts so many, but he hopes times are changing.
“We’re getting stronger now. The more people that get out and vote, these people will probably see the change.” Tacan said.
With files from Cally Stephanow
