Criminal record checks, pared down council part of historic Indigenous governance changes

The Squamish Nation is changing the way it elects its leaders.

In an initiativesimilar toB.C.'s recent referendum on electoral reform, the nationasked members to say yesor noto questions about revising its 40-year-old election rulesin a referendum.

Almost 800out of 3,000 eligible members cast votes in the referendum, which posed five questions on proposed changes to voting rules.

Voters responded yes to all questions, with margins ranging from 59 per cent in favour to 71 per cent.The changes were ratified on Tuesday.

"This is an historicdecision by our people to improve our governance for future generations," Squamish Nation spokespersonKhelsilemsaid.

Thechanges mean the nation's council will be cut from 16 to eight members. The new rules also meananyone with an indictable criminal offence could be barred from running for office in the future.

The referendumcomes on the heels of a Squamish Nation council vote in favour of the LNG Woodfibre deal, a move somecouncillorsopposed.

Mammoth territory torepresent

The Squamish Nation is made up of23 First Nations reserves and nineresidential communities, located in areas stretching from Vancouver's North Shore to the SquamishValley.

To try toreflect thediversity, people voted in favourofhavingthree councillors, one each torepresent the Squamish Valley, the North Shore and those living farther away.

Butmembers like Roberta Williams wanted anoption to vote for how many councillors should represent eachregion. Williamsalsovoted no to paring down the council.

"I just don't feel like eight members are going to be able to represent all our membership," she said."I feel like the key driver was mainly financial becauseof the amount of money we have to pay our representatives."

Khelsilemsays the cutwas based on input from members, who wanted to reduce the size of council witheight beingthe number most preferred.

Not properly consulted

Squamish Nation member LelandAskewequated the cut in councilto Ontario Premier Doug Ford's decision earlier this year to reducethe size of Toronto council from 47 to 25.

Askewalso thinks membersweren'tproperly consulted on the referendumor other important issues.

"A lot of our members are actually upset with the LNG deal right now because they never even knew anything about it,"he said.

The Squamish Nation council voted in favour of the$1.6 billion Woodfibre LNG in Novemberbut some council members, like Khelsilem, were also not happy about the decision.

It's still not clear if a new council could mean a new voteon the deal.

Khelsilem says the newSquamish Nation lawswill be implemented for the next scheduled election in three years.

Low voter turnout

Only 26 per centof eligiblevotersturned up to mark their ballot on the referendum. The Squamish Nation Election Commission Facebook page, where the results were posted, was rife with discontent about low voter turnout.

Brittany John from the Squamish Nation Electoral Commission said representativesdid their best toget the word out with community information sessions, postingvideos and graphics online and handingout flyers.

"I'm disappointed that some members didn'tfeel that was communicated clearly, but I remember at every meeting, telling people 'you have to vote, because not showing up is seen as a no vote,'" John said.

Preventing corruption

She says a key reason for the referendum was to be more transparent and accountable to members. She's hoping that can be achievedwith more councillors representing specific regions,a less cumbersome decision-making process with fewer councillors, and acode of conduct making criminal record checks mandatory.

"I feelthere's this disconnect between council and membership," John said. "It's knowing what council is doing on our behalf," she added.

Transparency and accountability became ahot button issue in late 2014.

That's when an investigation found nearly $1.5 million went missing from a Squamish Nation emergency fund meant to help members with rent, travel to funerals or clothing.

Instead, the funds spent over sixyears went toward entertainment expenses, including restaurant bills and Canucks tickets.

In 2014, two officials with the Squamish Nation kept their elected official statusbut were relieved of other duties.

Khelsilem saysbothwere removed from theirelected official status in 2015 after an investigation and forensic audit. He saysthe Squamish Nation is audited every year and postsitsaudited statements online.