Federal Election: Henry running for NDP in his first election in Lambton-Kent-Middlesex riding

By Rick Garrick

LAMBTON–KENT–MIDDLESEX RIDING —  Jason Henry of Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point is running in his first federal election as a candidate for the New Democratic Party of Canada in the Lambton–Kent–Middlesex riding.

“Some people talk about the Two Row Wampum and the fact that there are sort of two paths and we’re supposed to stay in our own canoe and not get into the other person’s, but realistically, we have status cards, we vote in federal elections through the Indian Act when we elect Chief and Council, and we’re already in the federal system being treated as wards of the state or as children. And as a Chief, I’ve had the struggle of trying to fight against the paternalistic system as it stands so what I felt was that I didn’t have a choice to sit back any longer and be a critic,” says Henry, a former electrician, water treatment operator, and educator who has served as Chief of his community for two terms. “I decided that the timing was the exact right time to enter that system I’m trying to effect change from inside.”

Henry says he chose to run for the NDP because they looked at the Indigenous theologies of helping each other, giving first, receiving second, working as a community and fighting for those that need to be fought for as their mantra.

“Of all the parties, it appears to me that Jagmeet Singh and the NDP are the only one that has Indigenous people at heart,” Henry says.

Henry says his campaign has been “fabulous” so far.

“NDP party members and supporters are really grassroots people, people that I fit in with very well,” Henry says. “Everybody wants to lend a hand and chip in, people are sending money, we’ve got over a hundred volunteers now — it’s going fantastic. And on the street, at the doors, the reception is great. At every couple of houses, someone is asking for one of my signs and it’s great feedback, it’s amazing feedback.”

Henry says he was “extremely inspired” by the remains of the 215 children that were discovered during a survey of the grounds at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in B.C. in May.

“And at the fact that Canadians were willing to listen — that was an inspiration,” Henry says. “That made me think that maybe there was a time that we could actually effect change.”

Henry says the child welfare system is also an issue for him during the election.

“But at the heart is trauma, is addiction, is mental health and the health care system,” Henry says. “I want to be able to go after those kinds of things for our people and make sure that we’re going after the traumas that were the outcome of the residential schools, which end up manifesting with social issues and addictions.”

Henry also raised the housing issue, noting that his e-mail inbox and cellphone message box are full of messages from people who are homeless, about to be homeless, or living with three families in one house. Henry also raised issues with healthcare, vision care, drug prescriptions, dental care, and people on government assistance programs.

“We are a party that looks at incentives and healthcare, pharmacare, [Employment Insurance] supports, training, affordable housing as a hand up,” Henry says. “One of the main things I intend to do when elected is to keep pushing and forcing the government and Canadians to address those histories, address those issues and to stop suppressing them. For centuries we’ve been suppressing all these things in our country and just sort of stepping over the issues like the homeless person on the street. We need to take time, consider how a person ended up in that situation and see how we can lend a hand. Being a grassroots person myself, being a student of our culture and language and spirituality, I recognize that it is important to give first before receiving.”

Henry says he has an in-depth knowledge of Indigenous issues and history.

“I wouldn’t have put my name on a ballot for Chief in my community if I did not have an in-depth understanding of the issues in my territory,” Henry says. “We are from the Treaty #29 that was signed in 1827, the Huron Tract surrender. It’s an older land cessation treaty and it set the tone for much of the land cessation treaties — it’s a pre-confederation treaty of course.”

Henry says his community was the site of the Ipperwash Crisis where Dudley George, an unarmed Kettle and Stony Point citizen and land defender, was shot and killed by the Ontario Provincial Police.

“I was a teenager in the 1990s and when it comes to being in the face of racism, I lived that, guns in my face, high-speed chases, rolling blockades, handcuffs, police brutality,” Henry says. “That was every day in my community so in terms of historical stuff in our area, absolutely.”

Henry says he supports First Nations’ assertion of land rights over their territories.

“I’ve been advocating as a Chief and the work won’t change as a Member of Parliament. I’ve been advocating that when we talk about land back or even land acknowledgements that a passive act of a municipality or an organization would be to do a land acknowledgement,” Henry says. “An aggressive and a proactive approach from a surrounding municipality or province would be when land becomes surplus, it be turned to the First Nation and be offered to co-manage, to sell or to work with or in some fashion give that land back to our people.”

Henry says he does not support the circumventing of Impact Benefit Agreements.

“We need to make sure we uphold our rights; we’ve been stripped of so much,” Henry says. “And we have to make sure we fight for our share — we can’t keep taking a back seat.”

Henry says he has a robust understanding of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Report.

“And I support that at all levels of government,” Henry says.

Henry says he always fought for equality and self-determination for Indigenous nations when he was an activist.

“That’s always been my fight when I was an activist and I’m still an activist,” Henry says. “That’s my fight as a Chief and that will be my fight as a Member of Parliament. I will make sure that we keep driving towards true Nation-to-Nation, not second order of government, not third order of government; first order of government Nation-to-Nation relationship.”

Henry says education is key to understanding and honouring treaties.

“Education is the first thing,” Henry says. “Many people are very ignorant to the truth of treaties and their true meanings.”

Henry says he supports the removal of parts of the Indian Act that hinder First Nations development and self-government on a step-by-step, piece-by-piece basis as First Nations ensure they have the components to replace it in place.

“So yes, section-by-section, one at a time,” Henry says.

Henry says he respects the right to self-government.

Henry says his government would implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action about cemeteries and death records.

“And hire an independent prosecutor,” Henry says.

The federal election takes place on September 20, 2021. For additional information on the election, please visit Elections Canada.

The Anishinabek News is profiling Anishinabek Nation First Nation candidates who are running in the Federal Election on September 20, 2021. The Anishinabek Nation (Union of Ontario Indians) is a non-partisan organization and does not endorse any political party or candidate.