Universal vote decision coming this summer

A final decision on a 2012 universal vote for Nishnawbe Aski Nation’s grand chief and three deputy grand chiefs is scheduled for this year’s Keewaywin Conference.
“Every time we presented (on a universal vote concept) for the last six years, we get a new ongoing mandate to continue to flush out some of the questions the communities/chiefs have,” said Grand Chief Stan Beardy. “The chiefs have said come the next Keewaywin (Conference) they will make a final decision.”
The mandate for a universal vote was first introduced in 2003 to involve all NAN members in the decision-making and political process systems.
“It is definitely one of the priorities,” Beardy said. “What’s important to note here is that the chiefs realize their people have to be involved in where we are going in the 21st century with Nishnawbe Aski as a nation of people.”
The universal vote would provide NAN members 18 years of age or older with the right to vote for the grand chief and the deputy grand chiefs. Member eligibility and a voters list would be established based on criteria set out by the NAN chiefs in Nishtam Ahkiiwininiwuk, the Foundation of our Nation document. Each First Nation would provide a voters list, based on the rules set by the NAN chiefs.
Beardy said one of the main concerns has been the cost of completing a universal vote.
“But we’re looking at technology, cost-savings and how it can be done,” Beardy said. “They (the chiefs) want to set up something that will be ongoing once they give the final go ahead. But it is something that will definitely happen. They want to involve their people in the direction of NAN.”
Another concern is the loss of influence smaller communities could face in a one vote per NAN member process. The current voting system gives each community the same influence even though some may have thousands of band members and others have less than one hundred band members.
“Normally it’s the smaller communities that need help the most,” Beardy said. “If they don’t have the political voice within the new structure, we have to have some safety mechanisms in place to make sure those little communities are heard because we are all the same within the treaty territory. We have equal rights under the Canadian constitution. We have equal inherent rights and it is the rights holders that define the nation itself. So we have to find a way that is fairly, as much as possible, equal and equitable.”
Process needs to be ‘fair’
Constance Lake Chief Arthur Moore is concerned about possible changes in representation under the universal vote.
“I don’t think it’s an equitable way to select a person,” Moore said, “especially when you are looking at the population factor in each region. There’s a number of communities with a high population which will affect the selection process, and I’m concerned that there wouldn’t be any proper representation.”
Beardy noted during last year’s Keewaywin Conference that young people keep asking him when they, the youth, will have an opportunity to participate in the selection of NAN’s leadership.
“For that reason, we keep coming back to you for further direction in terms of creating that opportunity for all our people to have a role in selecting our leadership and to have a role in deciding the government that we want to build for ourselves for future generations,” Beardy said last June during the 29th Keewaywin Conference.
Kashechewan Chief Jonathan Solomon said the tribal council in his area is looking at creating a youth grand chief position to work with the youth councils in each community.
“They can have a voice and be more proactive in the youth issues around the chief’s table,” Solomon said. “As a region, NAN as a whole, they need to start thinking like that because we’ve got neighbours on the eastern side of James Bay, the Quebec Cree, that have a youth grand chief. They function as an ambassador for the youth.”
Solomon is looking for a final conclusion this year on how the one vote per NAN member process would work, noting he brought the issue up at the 2010 Winter Chiefs Assembly.
“So far I haven’t seen any updates from that process,” Solomon said. “I’m interested to see what they are going to say at the Winter (Chiefs) Assembly in Timmins.”
Solomon said the chiefs need an update so they will be prepared to make a decision at the Keewaywin Conference.
“By 2011, we need to come to a final decision as leaders how we are going to proceed with that,” Solomon said. “One of the main mandates of the resolution is to look at various options on how it would work for everybody, so we won’t get into the ... argument about population or stuff like that. Let’s be creative and look at something that would work for everybody so that we can all sleep better knowing we came to a consensus as NAN on how to proceed.”
Under the universal vote system, Beardy said the role of the chiefs “will still be very vital” in providing direction to the grand chief and deputy grand chiefs.
“One of the questions they are looking at is structures and also who will give the mandate,” Beardy said. “Theoretically, in a democratic society, the grassroots people give their local leader direction on their priorities. It is not really possible to bring 50,000 NAN members into one setting to give one direction. In terms of priorities and trends, the chiefs will be the ones to fine tune whatever the selected mandate is on an annual basis.”