On Saturday, Oct. 19, citizens of British Columbia will vote for a new provincial government. First Nations play an important role in helping select the new provincial leadership to guide our collective futures. The leadership of Tsil Kaz Koh, Stellat’en, Nadleh Whut’en, Saik’uz and Lheidli T’enneh represent over 3,000 members that live in our territories and other parts of BC and the world.
Our territories include the following electoral districts, along with the following candidates:
- Nechako Lakes: Murphy Abraham, BC NDP; John Rustad, Conservative Party of BC; Douglas Gook, BC Green Party
- Prince George-Mackenzie: Shar McCrory, BC NDP; Kiel Giddens, Conservative Party of BC; James Steidle, BC Green Party; Rachael Weber, independent
- Prince George-North Cariboo: Denice Bardua, BC NDP; Sheldon Clare, Conservative Party of BC; Randy Thompson, BC Green Party; Coralee Oakes, independent
- Prince George-Valemount: Clay Pountney, BC NDP; Rosalyn Bird, Conservative Party of BC; Gwen Johansson, BC Green Party
It is important to note that some of the candidates are First Nations people from the region including:
- Murphy Abraham (Lake Babine Nation) – BC NDP candidate for Nechako Lakes
- Clay Pountney (Lheidli T’enneh) – BC NDP candidate for Prince George-Valemount
We hold these candidates in high regard for their courage to represent their constituents and values of their respective political parties. There was a time when First Nations people were not allowed to vote in provincial or federal elections, never mind be candidates of political parties.
We encourage our citizens to vote for candidates that share your values, that understand the important roles and responsibilities First Nations peoples and our governments have in north-central BC. We seek consistency in provincial leadership as we have unfinished business related to consent-based decision making in the forestry, mining and energy sectors; we also have jurisdiction over the care and wellbeing of our children. This jurisdiction is inherent and does not come from any Crown government. We do not have confidence in the leader of the BC Conservative Party, who focuses on all the wrong things, and if elected, First Nations human rights will be challenged and violated; our histories will not be revised, nor forgotten.
We encourage all First Nations people to vote this Saturday, Oct. 19, 2023.
Chief Wes Sam, Tsil Kaz Koh
Chief Robert Michell, Stellat’en
Chief Beverly Ketlo, Nadleh Whut’en
Chief Pricilla Mueller, Saiz’uz
Chief Dollen Logan, Lheidli T’enneh
