Young Indigenous voters in Sask. share their priorities ahead of the federal election

AlyBear says the voices of young Indigenous voters are crucialin this federal election because they can help make sure the next government prioritizes Indigenous issues that have been continuously overlooked.

The 30-year-old lawyer, who is of Dakota and Anishinaabe heritage and originally from Whitecap Dakota First Nation just south of Saskatoon,says she will vote in the upcoming federal electionandlike other young Indigenous voters in Saskatchewan interviewed by CBC News, she expects more than promises.

"I feel reconciliation has just become a word that people are now throwing around," said Bear. "It's not being applied."

Bear said she has heardplenty about reconciliation from federal leaders,including Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, but not enough has beenbeen done to address critical issues that have been harmful to First Nations communities.

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Aly Bear says Indigenous voters can hold federal leaders accountable

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Aly Bear, who is of Dakota and Anishinaabe heritage and originally from Whitecap Dakota First Nation in Saskatchewan, says young Indigenous voters can hold the government to account and spur federal action on Indigenous issues.

Bear's priorities for the upcoming federal election include responses to Canada's National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and also to ground surveys that found preliminary evidence ofunmarked graves found at the sites offormer residential schoolsoperated by the federal government and churches.

"Canada needs to be held accountable," she said. "The churches need to be held accountable for the genocide that has happened."

Themother of two who is also running for the role of third vice chief for the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), which represents Saskatchewan's First Nations wants action on Indigenous issues.

"Mental health issues, addiction issues and suicide ratesall those things are continuing and almost becoming worse," said Bear.

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She also pointed to an unfulfilled promise for clean drinking water on all First Nations in Canada, referring to a 2015 pledge by Justin Trudeau to end boil water advisories in Indigenous communities. As of last month,32 First Nation communities were still dealing with boil water advisories, according to Indigenous Services Canada.

"You have basic human rights being debated in 2021 in the federal election," Bear said, referring to federal leaders still discussing theunsolved clean water issue on the campaign trail this year.

"We are sitting at tables for years and we're not getting the settlements or the justice that is owed."

Bear said she wants federal party leaders tocreate more space for Indigenous peoplein leadership.

"We can do land acknowledgements all we want every single day, but if we're not creating safe spaces for Indigenous peoples, then what are we really doing?"

Nation-to-nation relationship

Most federal candidatesdon't understand what Indigenous people need, said Jamin Mike, 24, a student at First Nations University of Canada.

Mike, who is from Beardy's and Okemasis' Cree Nation says he is concerned about clean water, addiction issues and vague reconciliation promises, butthe biggest election issue for himhas been the what federal leaders will do about the evidence of unmarked graves near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in B.C and elsewhere in Canada.

"My community has a residential school that was built right on the reserve," he said. "Bringing home our children, first of all, is one of the biggest issues that I feel needs to be addressed within this election."

He also wants federal leaders to prioritize thelack of clean water in manyIndigenous communities.Mike says he'sused to getting water delivered by truck to his home at his First Nation, which is about 80 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon. As a result, families in the community have to conserve water.

"I don't think that is fair considering we aren't even far from cities at all," said Mike.

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Jamin Mike says voting is a choice

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Mike knows some Indigenous people won't vote in thefederal election, and says theyshouldn't be judged for that becauseFirst Nations have a "nation-to-nation" relationship with Canada.

But he does plan to vote and said that if he had the chance to meet with one of the party leaders, he would talkaboutsupport for people dealing with addictions, among other things.

"We buried a family friend from a fentanyl overdose," he said. "We have families out there who are addicted. Where is the hope?

And, to the party leaders he would ask, "How can you, through your Western systems, address this?"

'The voices of Indigenous people need to be heard'

Cheyenne Harriet Jones Ulriksen, 25, wants Indigenous people in Saskatchewan to vote in this upcoming election.

The student at University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoonisfrom the LacLa Ronge Indian Band, about 375 kilometres north of Saskatoon. Shesaid Indigenous voices need to be heard, particularly those from remote northern communities.

Climate change, First Nations education systems, food securityand clean drinking water are just some of the topics important to her during this federal election, said Jones Ulriksen.

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Looking at the current federal government, she said she doesn't believe Justin Trudeau's Liberals are stepping up to the plate.

"They have a lot of pretty words," she said.

Jones Ulriksen said opportunities need to be there for everyone in Canada. She wants to see a diverse group of "good people in the halls of power," she said.

"It can't be one side the grass is greener and the other side is dry and dying, like the dirt roads on the reserve," she said.

WATCH|Cheyenne Harriet Jones Ulriksen says she wants opportunities for everyone in Canada:

Cheyenne Harriet Jones Ulriksen says everyone deserves equal opportunities

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Cheyenne Harriet Jones Ulriksen from Lac La Ronge Indian Band says a diverse group of federal leaders is needed to ensure everyone in Canada has equal opportunity.

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