In the 35 years of Edith Cloutier in the Val d’Or Native Friendship Center, he has seen thousands of customers travel their doors and handfuls of federal politicians who come and go.
But the problems that affect urban indigenous peoples, the cost of living, affordability and lack of housing, have intensified in the areas surrounding Val d’Or, which, located more than 500 kilometers northwest of Montreal.
With only days until the federal elections of April 28, Cloutier, the executive director of the center, is among those looking for a candidate who can help respond to the needs of urban indigenous peoples in the largest riding of Quebec.
He Abitibi-caie-james-nunavik-eeyo ride It covers thousands of kilometers from areas in the northwest of Quebec to Nunavik, with a large population of potential indigenous voters.
Canada’s economy and response to US tariffs have dominated the electoral campaign, but Cloutier is looking for a candidate to treat local problems with equal importance.
“Reconciliation has been reserved due to these more global political concerns,” he said.
“I worry that the appearance is annulled with any government that is put in place.”
She says that urban indigenous problems as a whole have not been addressed.
That is part of what inspired Mandy Gull-Mascy to run for a position. Feeling frustrated by the lack of representation in the region, he resigned from his role as the great head of the Government of the Nation believes in Quebec to run as a liberal candidate.
“This is a unique driving,” said Gull-Mascy, who speaks, English and French.
“The challenge is that this is a great driving. You have to be present everywhere.”
Fight voting apathy in indigenous communities
Another challenge is to try to increase the participation of voters.
In the federal elections of 2021, of more than 38,000 voters registered in indigenous communities in Quebec, less than 9,000 voted, According to Canada’s elections.
That voter participation rate of 23 percent was delayed behind the average national rate for voters in indigenous communities, which were 44 percent.
Encourage residents to vote is a “great effort,” says Gull-Mascy.
“I am not only working to be chosen, but I am also working to try to obtain the vote in these areas,” he said.
“The reason why not everyone participates in a provincial or federal vote is because mainly, the communities vote for their boss. They vote for the great boss … because they know that these people are working directly for them.”
But it is highlighting how federal policy has direct consequences in the region. Gull-Mascy says that the number of CREE and INUIT voters is so strong that they could determine the result of the vote in this driving.
The assembly of the first nations (AFN) has highlighted a total of 36 federal constructions in Canada where the voters of the first nations could decide the results.
“We are the decisive factor,” says Cindy Woodhouse Napinak, national chief of the AFN.
“But the rest of the Poles in this country, we are there and we are in large quantities.”
While she says that the voting apathy “is real”, it is important that the people of the first nations feel included in the process.
“Any intelligent candidate will communicate with the people of the first nations and will come to talk to us and enter and have some soup and bannock with us,” he said.
The representation is also important. This year, there are almost 30 candidates throughout Canada who are indigenous, she says.
“I can’t remember again in an election with so many candidates from the first nations, “said Woodhouse Napinak.
BLOC QUBÉCOIS TITNING wants to continue his job
The head Sylvie Bérubé, with the Québécois block, won the seat in 2019 after he was unoccupied by Cree Romeo Sagash, who served the driving with the NDP for eight years.
Bérubé says he hopes to convince indigenous voters to support her by demonstrating that she is listening to and respecting them.
Looking for your third re -electionHe says he still has a job to do and adds that it is a shame for some people to criticize their lack of presence in the communities.
“I’ve always been on the field, I’ve always met people and even indigenous communities,” he said.
In his north trips, he says he listens to the need, especially food insecurity and the impacts of a changing environment on the indigenous way of life.
“I look at what the liberal government has done … Nothing is moving. Even the current liberal government has never respected indigenous communities like us,” Bérubé said.
“The important thing is to continue my files that are currently in progress.”
But even at the local level, Cloutier with the Native Friendship Center says that discussion on key issues such as housing scarcity or lack of housing is missing.
“The lack of housing was not even mentioned once in the local debate for the three candidates this week in Val d’Or,” said Cloutier.
“All parties, we don’t listen to those aspects as much as we should.”
While he feels good, he says it is because indigenous peoples are Franco, something that will continue.
“We really advance and present our needs,” said Cloutier. “[We] Do a lot of work to say: ‘Hey, we are here and we have things to say’ “.
