Sovereignty, economic reconciliation among priorities for some Indigenous leaders this election

Indigenous people represent about five per cent of Canada’s population, but are their concerns being heard on the campaign trail?

The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) has been hosting virtual forums with party leaders to find out where they stand regarding sovereignty and economic reconciliation, among other things.

“A critical piece is that the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People is the framework for reconciliation. It is now Canadian law,” John Fischer, Mount Royal University’s associate VP of Indigenization and decolonization, said.

“Some of the candidates are saying that it’s a Liberal initiative that should be re-examined. It’s critical that there is a realization that sovereignty is an important issue to Indigenous people.”

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The NDP and Conservatives have done their virtual forums with the AFN, while Liberal leader Mark Carney’s is scheduled for Friday.

On Wednesday, during the NDP forum, AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak discussed economic reconciliation.

“Over $560 billion of projects are forecast to be launched on the traditional lands over the next decade. They have been a focus point of the election and Canada’s response to Trump,” Woodhouse Nepinak said during the forum.

Canada-U.S. border trade, infrastructure gaps, water, policing and child/family welfare were also discussed.

AFN has calculated Indigenous voters could make a difference in four Alberta ridings: Edmonton Centre, Edmonton Griesbach, Peace River-Westlock and Fort McMurray-Cold Lake.

Indigenous peoples represent about five per cent of Canada’s population, according to Statistics Canada.

They are one of the fastest-growing populations at almost twice the pace of everyone else, creating a larger voter base and a more influential voice.

“First Nations people have a great deal of influence in those ridings and in Canada as a whole,” John Fischer said.