April 20, 2001
Natives Doing Politics
Holy! A Grassroots Aboriginal Political Movement!
Pundits & Pollsters Beware!
News and Comment
by Tehaliwaskenhas - Bob Kennedy, Oneida
Publisher, Turtle Island Native Network
www.turtleisland.org

It's that time of the year again. A time for growth!

Blossoms sprout, birds sing their praises of a west coast spring and fish fantasies fill our minds. But something else has been nurtured in British Columbia this year. The growth of a new political movement. Considering BC's track record on spawning new parties you might not get excited. However, this one is different.

For weeks Aboriginal leaders and community activists have been deep inside the world of political planning. On Vancouver Island, on the Mainland, in Prince George, Rupert, Kamloops, Kelowna and elsewhere they have had their heads together scheming - 'conspiring to succeed' is a favourite term I like to use. People of like minds getting together to create ways of succeeding in the best interests of their children, families and communities.

Aboriginal sensitivities command a high profile as British Columbia prepares for a May 16th election. With the opposition Liberals leading in the polls, political polarization is very evident and BC's First Nations are at the forefront of the debate.

First and foremost is the Liberal approach to modern-day treaties, the hallmark of the outgoing New Democrats. If Gordon Campbell forms the next government, and the oddsmakers say he definitely will, then BC residents will face another important vote in the near future - a treaty referendum is necessary says Campbell to provide a greater say for the general population.

First Nation leaders have warned it spells doom for the treaty process and inevitable conflict and confrontation. To add insult to injury, the Liberals have taken a strong stand against the removal of historic murals from the legislature rotunda - murals inaccurately and inappropriately depicting Native women with bare breasts.

But the real differences have to do with the always fragile BC Treaty Process. In recent months there has been a flurry of intense activity - announcements about numerous interim measures or treaty-related measures dealing with cultural and natural resources.

Now, the Sto:lo Nation in the Fraser Valley is calling for an interim agreement to prevent fisheries conflict this summer in the Fraser River. Recently the treaty process was bruised again when it was revealed there were thumbs down by a slim margin in the results of the first voting by communities on Vancouver Island on the Nuu-chah-nulth agreement in principle. The rejection of the AIP is most evident in the results from those Nuu-chah-nulth communities that have voted, including the home community of Native leader George Watts who championed the agreement.

But while the process in place during the NDP reign has not been without its warts, the troubles are expected to pale by comparison to a Liberal -- Gordon Campbell gotta have a referendum-- way of doing business with Aboriginals.

As that old Aboriginal expression goes, "Necessity is the Mother of Invention". Because of the nature of BC politics and the threat of a so-called provincial Liberal government, we have been forced to 'get in the game'.

Don Moses worked hard to bring his dream to life by establishing the All Nations Party to field half a dozen Aboriginal candidates in the May 16th BC election.

Native Peoples political know-how manifested itself too in the strategic marketing of Aboriginal issues. The movement gained ground when Grand Chief Ed John got himself appointed to the high profile cabinet post of Minister for Children and Families. He's got his hands full, fighting for a seat in Prince George - the land of Hedy Fry's racism and burning crosses controversy.

The politics of fear can make you hungry for change. In Vancouver and other urban centres the plan got fed with the energy of Aboriginal youth. Fuelled by concerns raised by racist remarks in the federal campaign, they got encouragement from the United Native Nations, First Nations Summit and even Elections BC who, prompted by the always-assertive UNN's Scott Clark, hired themselves an Aboriginal liaison officer, Pat Burns.

The grassroots campaign in the city is intense. Witness the emotional, provocative language in the Aboriginal Political Action Committee's pamphlet Natives Doing Politics - For Our Future, For Our Children.
"There is only one choice for Aboriginal people in the BC Provincial Election. The New Democratic Party of BC supports ALL Aboriginal Peoples (Metis, Status, Non-Status, On & Off Reserve). Campbell's Liberals are determined to treat Aboriginal relations as an 'us-versus-them' dispute, the goal of which would be making US give up OUR rights and sacrifice OUR future to ADVANCE THE NARROW INTOLERANT AGENDA OF THE WEALTHY. What will happen to our communities if THEY are elected?

Natives Doing Politics - the Aboriginal Political Action Committee is a group of mostly urban people who came together voluntarily and are not funded by any political party. They've been focusing on youth 18-30 to help educate them about the political parties. Although Natives Doing Politics is centered primarily in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, participants come from many nations, from all over BC and other parts of Canada.

What they really want to do is help ensure the struggling New Democrats have a fighting chance. Their pamphlet has basic key messages - get out and vote, don't vote for fringe parties because you'll take votes away from the NDP. In fact Natives Doing Politics calls on those others - Marijuana and Green parties to withdraw from the race so they don't take votes away from the NDP.

I know you will not hear their messages from Gordon Campbell. I know you will not see Gordon Campbell target the same audience as these people ... the homeless for example.

Does it really matter? Natives Doing Politcs thinks so, "If you do vote you can make a difference, "Too many of our People do not vote because they believe that their vote does not matter. This is far from the truth, Most political parties, particularly the Provincial Liberals, in fact, do not want you to vote."

If you are interested in finding out more about this grassroots Aboriginal movement you can call 604-974-0991 extension 7380 or e-mail nativesdoingpolitics@mybc.com
Aboriginal Political Action Committee Marcus D. Oppenheimer

As a postscript - the following is based on what's been reported in the Times Colonist --- In some British Columbia ridings Aboriginal people have power - if they get out and vote they might influence the outcome in some ridings in the May 16th election. The United Native Nations and the BC First Nations Summit have launched outreach campaigns across the province to urge Aboriginal voters to show up on voting day. Election BC's Aboriginal liaison officer Pat Burns says Get Out There and Vote...Make Your Voice Heard, Otherwise you seem invisible. That's her advice to the Aboriginal population in British Columbia where it's estimated that fewer than 20 per cent of Aboriginal voters cast ballots, as opposed to 70 per cent for the general population. To help First Nations members participate in the BC election the province's Elections BC agency has installed several dozen polling sites on remote reserves and communities have been sent information kits to help spread the word and encouragement.