All-Candidates forum: Debwewin needed in leadership

By Julie Kapyrka

PETERBOROUGH – Over 150 people packed the Lion’s Club in Peterborough on the evening of September 18th, attending an all federal candidates forum focusing on Indigenous issues. Hosted by Niijkiwendidaa Anishnaabekwewag Services Circle (NASC), the candidates answered a series of questions during the three-hour event which was moderated by Professor David Newhouse from Trent University. Mushkegowuk Truth and Reconciliation Walkers Patrick Etherington and his partner Frances Whiskeychan joined the audience as honoured guests.

Green Party representative Doug Mason, Liberal candidate Maryam Monsef, NDP candidate Dave Nickle, and Toban Leckie from the Strength in Democracy Party were in attendance. The candidate for the governing Conservative Party, Michael Skinner did not attend. Although Toban Leckie did not take part in the panel Q & A session, he did have the opportunity to take the floor and speak about his party’s platform.

The candidates answered 7 prepared questions with prepared answers. Then the floor was opened up to questions from the community. The evening was full of humour and laughter, support and seriousness, as well as some very emotional and spiritual moments. Particularly during Toban Leckie’s speech when he broke down as he commented about the current government’s seeming indifference to Canada’s murdered and missing Indigenous woman and Chief Phyllis Williams of Curve Lake First Nation stepped up to continue reading his speech while he composed himself. The crowd embraced him with cheers of support as he resumed.

Also explanatory, the forum offered a brief overview of the electoral process in Canada, as well as some pertinent instructions on the voting procedure for First Nations peoples.

Chief Williams made some poignant comments as she welcomed the attendees to Mississauga Anishinaabe territory. She advised the candidates to remember this land and to remember the people of this land and the challenges that many of them still face. She pointed out that First Nations all across the country are still waiting for Canada to live up to its Constitution in terms of its Indigenous citizens. Speaking to the gathered community members she stated that “we must give our best effort in the upcoming election to vote, despite the many barriers that exist that discourage our people from voting.” She commented on the absurdity of the voting process for First Nations people in that status cards are not being recognized as an acceptable form of identification and that many families living on Reserves do not have formal addresses, also a requirement of voting.

Speaking directly to the candidates, Chief Williams asked for action regarding equity in education funding, the right to meaningful consultation, the addressing of murdered and missing Indigenous women, reducing the risk of environmental damage to land and waterways, and the respectful engagement with First Nations on a nation-to-nation basis. She urged all peoples to vote and spoke to the importance of changing the political agenda.

Executive Director of NASC, Elizabeth Stone was pleased with the turn-out, however, pointed out that it is still evident that a majority of the candidates lack a sound understanding and knowledge of Indigenous peoples and their struggles in general. She said her hope was that the candidates would spend more time engaged in “lived experience” with all of their constituents in the future.

One of the two event organizers, Matthew Olsen, stated that his hope was that “people would come, listen, and learn.” He was not disappointed. This forum, proved to be a very significant event as Curve Lake First Nation Elder Doug Williams observed: “This is the first time this has happened in this area.”

Elder Williams ended the evening with some sound words of wisdom before he prayed for the gathering. He spoke about the differences between traditional Indigenous forms of leadership and mainstream models. He said that within Indigenous systems of governance that the community would have very close relationships with potential leaders that “we would know them, watch them grow up. We would know their partners, their children, etc. over the course of many years.” He made the contrast to the candidates and how “we only really know you tonight.” He advised to “get back to basics” in the political process. To look to “debwewin” – to truth. That truth is needed in leadership. And the hope is that whichever leader is chosen that they will speak the truth and live by this truth.

An important message, one that we can all appreciate.

Congratulations to Niijkiwendidaa Anishnaabekwewag Services Circle for putting together this important event. There is a first time for everything, and this was a great start. Miigwech for taking the lead!