Grassroots campaign underway in northern Ontario to get Indigenous people out to vote

A grassroots campaign is underway in northern Ontario to encourage First Nations people to participate in the federal election. The campaign, based in Sault Ste. Marie, falls within a riding identified by the Assembly of First Nations as one where First Nation voters could affect the outcome. People behind the campaign say First Nation voices and votes matter more now than ever. “We do have a significant number of our people that are eligible voters,” Nadine Roach told APTN News. “Having said that, we wanted to encourage that population to get out and vote.” The AFN identified 36 ridings across the country where First Nations could have an impact on who wins. That includes the riding of Sault Ste. Marie-Algoma, currently held by Liberal Terry Sheehan. Other ridings in northern Ontario are Sudbury East-Manitoulin-Nickel Belt (Liberal), Kenora-Kiiwetinoong (Conservative), Thunder Bay-Rainy River (Liberal), Kapuskasing-Timmins-Mushkegowuk (no incumbent) and Thunder Bay-Superior North (Liberal). “I have heard our Indigenous people give their reasons that they don’t want to be a part of the colonial elective system in Canada and they claim not to be Canadian,” said organizer Cathie Syrette. “You know, ‘I’m not Canadian, I am a First Nation person, I’m not Canadian’. Okay, that’s your belief, but the truth of the matter is that we are Canadians. “If we are registered with the federal government of Canada, we are Canadian citizens.” Read More: Decision 2025 Dean Sayers, the former chief of Batchewana First Nation, said First Nation citizens should not look at voting as giving up their nationhood. “We find ourselves today, in 2025, with the ability as an Anishinabek to actually vote in the settler elections,” he said. “Having a vote in the settler election gets us the ability to have a willing party on the other side of the table. So, we have that ability without giving up our nationhood. “We never succumbed, we never surrendered our inherent ability to be members of the Anishinabek Nation and we’ll continue to do that and at the same time have the ability to vote in Canada’s election.” Kassidy Layne Wigwas, a local youth and community advocate, said she recently realized the importance of voting as a First Nations person. “I didn’t always consider my vote to be an important one but now, at this time, and in all the times before, it is important,” she said. “That one vote does mean everything and we do matter as a nation and as First Nations of this land and we can use that strength and our unity to make this go the way that would benefit us.” The organizers said the Indigenous Community Engagement Campaign will culminated with a gathering on April 24 where federal candidates have been invited. Continue Reading