Universal vote up for decision

Nishnawbe Aski Nation chiefs are looking to hold a dedicated conference on the universal vote before this summer’s Keewaywin Conference.
“We have to organize something as soon as possible because the chiefs are saying they hope to have more information before August so they are in a position to make an informed decision on how to proceed,” said Grand Chief Stan Beardy after the March 22-24 NAN Winter Chiefs meeting in Timmins.
Beardy also suggested using a survey or canvassing community members to gather more input on the universal vote issue.
“We need to reach as many people as possible to get some feedback on the issue of universal vote,” Beardy said.
Shawn Batisse, executive director of Wabun Tribal Council, brought up his communities’ concerns about a loss of influence related to their population sizes, ranging from about 49 to 800 band members, if the universal vote goes ahead.
“The fear is their ability to have an effect on the selection of the leader goes the way of the dodo,” Batisse said.
“That ability to influence the leadership is gone. The larger communities, because they are larger and the votes are there, will get all the attention from the leadership.”
Beardy said the chiefs are always considerate of each other under the current NAN governance model, so the smaller communities are always part of the circle at NAN.
“Equal attention and voice is given to all the chiefs around the table,” Beardy said.
“If (the vote) goes to the constituents, those people may not necessarily understand how do you give voice to small communities as compared to communities that have a population up to 3,000.”
Jackie Fletcher, a NAN Women’s Council member, brought up concerns about how NAN members across the country would vote and how the master voting list could be compiled in time for the next NAN leadership election in 2012.
“You’ve got people who want to vote and they live in B.C. –how are they going to do that,” Fletcher said.
“There will be master list and voting list challenges. Who’s going to perfect master lists, what about confidentialities.”
Beardy said gaining access to band membership lists to build a master list may raise legal questions.
He says membership lists may contain personal information.
“You have to keep in mind the privacy of those individuals,” Beardy said.
“If you are going to have a universal vote, that implies that you are trying to reach everybody that is a member of Nishnawbe Aski Nation regardless of where they might live.”