My home community of Attawapiskat First Nation is holding a local election on August 29. It is an exciting time not just for those living in the community but for those members, like myself, who live in southern cities and towns away from the James Bay coast. This will be the first election that off-reserve members who don’t reside in the community will have the opportunity to vote for their leadership.
Although off-reserve voting had occurred in previous elections, it was in a very limited capacity. This time, election officials will travel to Timmins on August 18, Sudbury on August 20, North Bay on August 21, Kingston on August 23, Cochrane on August 25 and Moosonee on August 27.
As plans are being finalized, members are being asked to stay in contact with election officials and to monitor notices provided on the Facebook group pages “ACB – Attawapiskat Community Bulletin” and the newly created group page “Attawapiskat First Nation Election 2025”.
Many First Nations across the country are now implementing ways to allow their membership wherever they live to take part in community elections. Fort Albany First Nation conducted a byelection for two band councillors in October 2024 using One Feather, an Indigenous tech and services company located in Victoria, BC, that provides secure digital voting services for any individual regardless of their location. Hopefully, communities like Attawapiskat FN can take advantage of services like this.
In this election for Attawapiskat FN leadership, there are an estimated 3,035 eligible voters. About two thirds of voters reside in the community and the remainder are off-reserve members.
I remember growing up in Attawapiskat and witnessing the excitement of our local elections. Into the early 1990s, there was no internet, no cable TV and radio broadcasts were limited to just a few hours of air time with Wawatay Radio. Everyone was always looking for something exciting to do in the community and when elections rolled around, voters took part as one mass gathering.
It was usually multiple events over a month in the summer as nominations had to be held first to select candidates. These events at the old JR Nakogee Elementary School would be packed with almost the entire community. As children, we always knew something big was happening when we saw our normally quiet and conservative Elders standing up to cheer, clap and call out their candidates and promote them to everyone.
The position of Chief of the community for 2025 will be chosen from the following candidates: incumbent Chief Sylvia Koostachin-Metatawabin, Raphael Bonez Wheesk, Paul Wesley, Conrad Iahtail and David Freitag Nakogee.
I was happy to take part in the nomination process on line and to see the long list of candidates that will be working towards the additional positions of one Deputy Chief and 11 Council positions.
I wish all the candidates for the election the best of luck in everything they do. I know that even if they don’t achieve their positions, they will still play roles in our local leadership and in supporting our community.