The Aboriginal vote does matter
In one of the most revealing moments of the Abotech affair, the campaign manager for Liberal MP David Smith, his brother Dan Smith, attempted to dismiss the criticism leveled against David Smith by the Kitigan Zibi First Nations people, whose band lands are in Smith's riding. The criticism was of the legitimacy of David Smith's Metis status, which is predicated on a great grandmother being aboriginal, and that's all.
Dan Smith's retort? "They don't vote, these people."
I got in touch with the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, and they provided me with this helpful chart based on the June 2004 general election, the one that saw the Liberal Party under Paul Martin elected to a very slim majority:
In that election, CAP endorsed the Liberals, so the top chart focuses on those ridings that could have gone Liberal by a margin smaller than the number of eligible aboriginal voters who neglected to cast a ballot.
The bottom chart shows the remainder of the ridings where the balance could have been tipped in any other direction had the aboriginal turn-out been stronger.
Notice that David Smith's riding of Pontiac is there.
I would urge any candidate in Pontiac, and for that matter, in any riding anywhere, to not ignore the aboriginal vote. CAP has decided to endorse Stephen Harper and the Conservatives. That newsworthy endorsement itself is likely to generate interest, and hopefully, more participation.
I would be very careful before assuming that their concerns could be dismissed by assuming that 'they don't vote, these people". Patterns change, and that sort of attitude is likely to fuel that change, especially if "these people" realize how much they could influence the results.
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Comments
I am glad that you posted the radio clip from CBC and the quotes from Dan Smith. I have known these individuals for many years and am outraged. I have emailed them but when I see them I will give them a piece of my mind. Why don't First Nations people vote? The Indian Act indicates that we will be dealt with on a Nation to Nation basis. How can we rightfully vote in another Nation's election? It is scary for First Nations to see a possible Conservative government coming to power, and hopefully they are sincerely in their expressed interest in working WITH us rather than making all of the decisions.
Posted by: KZMEMBER at January 17, 2006 02:13 PM
As far as Metis' standing goes, that totally depends on who you ask. Some say it just means aboriginal ancestry, while others say one has to be able to trace their roots to the original "red river" Metis. In fact if I am correct the MNA website implies that aboriginal ancestry essentially means nothing unless said aboriginal ancestry is bona-fide "Metis". All in all, it seems to be a very ambiguous term.
As far as the Indian act goes, IMHO I think it is an outdated paternal act that keeps and treats aboriginal people as permanent wards of the state, effectively treating them like dependent children. The sooner it is gone, the better for all involved, in my opinion. Throwing billions at the problems like the lib's insist on doing is not helping, they have been doing it for years and conditions remain the same, real change is needed and the torys are more likely to implement that.
Posted by: AlbertanFromBC at January 17, 2006 04:15 PM
I agree with KZMember, yet the first people knocking at the fed's door crying for money are those same people who don't vote. If you want to walk the walk, you've got to talk the talk. Vote and complain or don't vote and shut up. It's a real shame that at the Kitigan Zibi polling station last federal election, 1222 were on the list and 17 voted. Knowing that there are at least 17 non-natives living on the Kitigan Zibi Reserve, the numbers makes sense.
Posted by: Political Indian at January 17, 2006 05:27 PM
Knocking at the door crying for money? Uncalled for.
Posted by: KZMEMBER at January 18, 2006 08:54 AM
 
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