Young aboriginal Yukoners struggle with strategic voting

This is the second in a series of CBC Yukon panel discussions with three young First Nations voters.

Strategic votingit's an issueconfronting many Canadians, regardless of their ethnicity, age or where they live. In Yukon, some young First Nations voterssay it's one of the toughest thingsthey've grappled with throughout the long federal election campaign.

CBC Yukon assembled a panel of three young,aboriginalvoters to talk about the campaign and the issues drivingthem to cast ballots on Oct. 19.All three have said they wantStephen Harper'sConservative Party ousted.

• RELATED: Young First Nations voters in Yukon on why they'll cast ballots

Geri-Lee Buyck, 24, isa citizen of the Nacho NyakDun First Nation and a first-time voter. She's clear that she doesn't want to see Conservative incumbent Ryan Leef returned as Yukon's MP.

"I'm not a fan of the Conservative camp," said Geri-Lee Buyck, 24.

"I feel like they really kind of put down their competitors in a childish way. I do not like or appreciate that."

Dana Tizya-Tramm,28, isa citizen of Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, and also a first time voter. He's worried that the anti-Conservativevote will be split between the Liberals, the NDP and the Green Party.

"I know that here in the Yukon, a lot of people are scared about splitting the vote," Tizya-Tramm said.

"That was a fear from the very beginning,but it's happening. It's almost like a car crash that we can't stop.

"With six out of 10 Canadians voting to get Harper out, that still leaves four for them. It's getting even tighter now."

Tizya-Tramm says the Green Party offers a "really balanced opinion. They speak emotionally but maturely," whileLiberal candidateLarry Bagnellrepresents "really good boots-on-the-ground in the community." He calls NDP candidate Melissa Atkinson, "the X factor. No one has seen her. This is her first jump into the political arena."

Tizya-Trammalsosaysthat as a former crown prosecutor and head of the Yukon Human Rights Commission, Atkinson has the capacity to "carry the responsibilty."

Steven Kormendy,23, is a Tr'ondk Hwch'in citizen nowstudying at the University of Victoria. For Kormendy,"strategic voting is the best chance we have if we want to get the Conservative government out."

Kormendysays Atkinson's values are "probably pretty near and dear to me,"including her push to further aboriginal rights.

He sayshe's decided to vote strategically, but won't get specific about his calculation.

"I don't want to see a Conservative Party come to power again, and I feel that there's one party in general that can make that happen, and I think that's where my vote will go."

Buycksays sheagrees with the strategic vote strategy, saying that will also direct her choice at the ballot box.

Tizya-Trammis still in a quandary, as are many others who say they want to see a change in government.

"I really,really want to votewith my heart, to vote one way," he said. "But this is an important election, and we have to do it very carefully.

"So I'm starting to consider other options, unfortunately."