Political tensions swell in Ahtahkakoop First Nation

Starblanket said band members are concerned Ahenakew is not following proper election protocols and guidelines.

“Some people say that she’s saying here you pick this guy,” said Starblanket. “Like she’s telling these people who to pick from what we heard.”

MP for Desnethe-Missinippi-Chuchill River, Rob Clarke, said he had received a petition of more than 500 names speaking out against Electoral Officer Donna Ahenakew.

“A group of almost 500 people came to my office with a petition wishing to have their chief electoral officer changed,” Clarke said. “Their concerned with the processes in place and they feel they’re not being listened to by their chief of council.”

Clarke reacted to the petition and expressed his concern in a statement released earlier last week.

“Open and transparent elections that are free from real or perceived bias are basic principles of democracy in Canada,” wrote Clarke in the statement. “Our government has been tireless advocates for electoral reform.”

Gerald Isbister, another of the protestors, said Ahenakew is related to current Chief of Council Larry Ahenakew and that she is coercing voters to bring other family members into council as well.

“Regarding Donna she’s a conflict of interest because she’s family,” said Isbister. “Within this Ahenakew clan, it’s within family that [Chief Ahenakew] and Donna belong to.”

Starblanket said this alleged behaviour is closing options for others who may be nominated for the council or chief positions.

“Every time she runs it, it seems like the same people are in it, and there’s no chances for anybody else,” said Starblanket. “It’s just a waste of time for people to come here and vote.”

Speaking to Ahenakew she denied she was related to Chief Ahenakew although she did confirm she is originally from the Ahtahkakoop First Nation and now living in Saskatoon.

Another protestor said he felt the Electoral Officer should be an impartial third party from outside of the First Nation in order to ensure a fair election process.

Starblanket said when these officials are allegedly handpicked by Ahenakew they often will blacklist other members on the reserve who do not support them.

“I had quite a few horses and I was trying to make money with them, so I asked the chief if he could help me out through agriculture, which I know that there was money for that so I could get some round bales through this harsh winter we had, and he wouldn’t do anything,” said Starblanket.

She added she was forced to ask for help from a man from Debden, and her band supposedly never helped her with her problem.

Band Council member Carmen Little said he has never been aware of any blacklisting or nepotism when it comes to council or the chief.

“[Donna] has been running elections throughout the province, she knows a lot of people,” said Little. “You have to be professional to carry a lot of those duties out; she’s clear, she’s tried to maintain everything out there, all the information.”

Little added there is always someone else involved in the electoral process to assist and confirm the nominations and votes are fairly carried out.

He said when it came to the possibility of blacklisting reservation members, he was not aware of that ever happening.

“I don’t believe we try to blacklist anybody, I don’t think anyone is disregarded because of their last name, or who they are, or anything like that,” Little said.

He said these concerns have never been formally brought in front of council.

With the nomination process now finished the next step is up to Chief Larry Ahenakew to see if he will deal with this issue according to Rob Clarke.

The individual to fill the position of electoral officer is chosen by the Chief of Council under the current Indian Act Law.

Donna Ahenakew has been the electoral officer in the last four chief and council elections.

jbowler@panow.com

On Twitter: @journalistjim

by James Bowler

Political tensions swell in Ahtahkakoop First Nation

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