Action needed on missing, murdered indigenous women: aboriginal leaders

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This article was published 20/10/2015 (3682 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Voter turnout Monday jumped by almost 20 percentage points from 2011 in Manitoba’s northern riding, which has a high number of aboriginal voters.

Some First Nations, including one in Manitoba, ran out of ballots in different parts of the country.

The record turnout was because of grassroots movements on social-media platforms and, especially in Winnipeg, from Idle No More and Rock the Indigenous Vote, which held rallies and vigils that kept public attention on indigenous issues, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Sheila North Wilson said.

“It’s a credit to our people who are saying enough is enough. They don’t want to live under these conditions, and they see (it) getting worse and worse under the Conservatives. Now there is some hope for change,” North Wilson said.

In the 2015 election, 31,254 voters cast their ballots in Churchill-Keewatinook-Aski, just under 64 per cent of registered voters.

In 2011, 20,076 voters cast a ballot in the northern Manitoba riding, or 45 per cent of registered voters. About 75 per cent of voters in Churchill-Keewatinook-Aski are indigenous.

Winnipeg Centre, home to a large number of indigenous people, also saw a big increase in voter turnout, with 26 per cent more voters casting ballots compared with 2011. About 60 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot this election.

The Winnipeg Centre race saw longtime NDP MP Pat Martin fall to Liberal star candidate Robert-Falcon Ouellette, a former mayoral candidate in Winnipeg. Ouellette is Cree.

Winnipeg Centre has suffered from low turnout, especially in areas around downtown. Last year, in the Winnipeg mayoral race, Ouellette placed first in several of those downtown neighbourhoods, despite finishing third overall.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau pledged to renew relations with indigenous people, starting with a national inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women within 100 days of taking office.

Asked if that inquiry is the most important election promise, Nepinak gave a definitive answer: “Yes.”

“It means we are going to stop this epidemic of missing and murdered indigenous women,” North Wilson said.

“At the heart of it all is our women and children. We have a nation because of them, and we can’t let that be compromised any longer.”

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

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Indigenous people expect their issues to matter to the new Liberal majority, starting with an inquiry, three of Manitoba’s First Nations leaders said Tuesday.

“I hope this shows when we do participate, we do make a difference,” Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Derek Nepinak said.

“I believe that Mr. Harper, when he was prime minister, awoke a sleeping giant in our people. That giant is awake, and the new Liberal government under Mr. Trudeau is going to have to deal with a giant in the indigenous people of these lands,” Nepinak said.

Kevin Hart, regional vice-chief for the Assembly of First Nations, said: “It has given us new hope; we look forward to working with this government. This morning our people woke up with a great sense of relief. There were a lot of prayers, not only by our elders and leaders, but I’m sure by Canadians as a whole.”

— with files from Inayat Singh