‘Anything but Conservative’ is preferred election outcome for many First Nations voters [video]

For many residents of Elsipogtog First Nation, anyone but Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is the preferred winner in Monday’s federal election.

Journalism students from St. Thomas University spoke to local residents at the Elsipogtog Community Service Centre recently, asking their opinions about the upcoming vote. Community members unanimously stated that they oppose the Conservative Party.

“Anything but Conservative,” several people said as they paused from a Mi’kmaq language lesson, including students and instructor Joan Milliea.

Milliea and one of her students, Lisha Francis, both stated that people need to be more open-minded about supporting parties other than the Liberals and Conservatives.

Asked about major issues, they mentioned education funding, mental health support for youth, and housing for those who are in need.

The government needs to do more to fulfill the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, said Milliea, a traditional knowledge keeper and Mi’kmaq teacher. “Time to make bigger steps,” she said.

Mark Hillman, a custodian at the community centre, said he supports Liberal Leader Mark Carney, saying he’s best suited to take on U.S. President Donald Trump and to improve the economy. “He’s trying to do the best that he can,” Hillman said.

Elsewhere in the community centre, two people at Kopit Lodge — an Elsipogtog organization dedicated to protecting the water and land — both said they oppose the Conservatives, citing the threat of funding cuts.

Miramichi–Grand Lake 

Elsipogtog is in the Miramichi–Grand Lake riding, currently represented by Conservative MP Jake Stewart, who isn’t running again following reports of turmoil in his office. In the 2021 election, he beat Liberal Lisa Harris by fewer than 1,500 votes.

She is running against Conservative Mike Dawson, New Democrat Josh Floyd, and the Green Party‘s Matthew Ian Clark.

The head of an organization representing Mi’kmaq communities in New Brunswick, said the First Nations vote is significant.

Dean Vicaire, executive director of Mi’gmaw’l Tplu’taqnn Inc., noted that many Indigenous people mobilized at the ballot box to defeat Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2015.

“We do have definitely enough population to sway the vote,” he said, though he noted that many Indigenous people reject participation in the colonial political process.

Vicaire noted that MTI itself is non-partisan. But speaking as a former chief and councillor, he said that Canada’s two major parties are very different in their relationships with First Nations, with Liberals generally being more willing to negotiate with First Nations.

Vote could affect negotiations

In response to a student’s question about how major land title cases might be affected by the election, Vicaire said that under the Liberals he’s “hopeful and ultimately confident that negotiations will continue in a very respectful manner.”

Under a Conservative government, he said, it’s harder to say how things would unfold because they’ve been out of power since 2015. “But history does tell us that it will certainly be more challenging,” he said, adding that “we are always and forever open to negotiations.”

Still, he warned about both of the major parties in the Canadian federal system, invoking years of colonial oppression. “They all beat us with a stick,” he said. “The Liberals have the smallest stick, the Conservatives have the biggest stick, and there’s been no other party in power.”

He stressed the importance of self-determination as he fielded questions from students on topics such as crime and policing. For example, he called for investment in First Nations peacekeeping programs rather than an expanded RCMP presence.

Election day is Monday, April 28. You can find information on how to vote at election.ca or 1-800-463-6868.

With files from St. Thomas University students Haiti Augustine, Seth Augustine, Silas Augustine, Natasha Bernard and Larrah Francis. David Gordon Koch is a staff reporter with the NB Media Co-op and a journalism instructor with STU. This reporting has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada, administered by the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS).