It’s the eve of the elections for National Chief at the Assembly of First Nations. But I can’t participate. Neither can you. The Chiefs of the various nations vote the National Chief in during a conference. There are about 600 or so nations across Canada. That’s 600 votes out of a possible 500,000.
The AFN supposedly represents the native people across Canada. But I don’t feel it speaks for me. It doesn’t speak for me because I can’t participate in the elections.
I can’t participate in the formation of policies or the decision-making process.
We live in a democracy or do we? What have the South Africans fought so long for? I think it was something along the lines of “One person one vote.”
Why can’t I, like the South Africans, have one vote for me? The AFN has the potential to become a vital force within the Canadian political scene. If it wants to be.
Right now, it seems to be a marginal committee or fringe group which the media politely calls fora quote during a crisis or something. Maybe they do some good work with this and that royal hearing or whatever.
But that’s boring stuff. There has to be some sort of revolution within the native political world. It has to catch up with the spiritual revolution already going on. Maybe the AFN could register itself as a political party in the next elections.
Get everyone from the homelands, er, reservations to organize, unite everyone in one front to make a difference, sign up candidates in all the ridings and include everyone across this country because everyone needs to heal. Lets take the best of our cultures, our ways and offer them to everyone to share. Get in parliment and then make the necessary changes to the so-called system from within instead of the outside. Hmmm, just a thought…
Only when the so-called average native can participate in the political process which affects his or her destiny can the system begin to address the needs of natives across this land called Canada.
During the elections, only Chiefs from across Canada vote in the National Chief elections. I feel excluded from this process which “elects” a representative for me.
The only way I can participate is if I am a Chief. I have no wish or desire to become Chief. But I do want to participate in a process which affects my very being. So let’s catch up with the South Africans. And grant me my one vote. It’s not a privilege, but my right.
