Coalition addresses urban concerns (Thunderchild First Nation election system challenged).

By Pamela Green 

Windspeaker Contributor

THUNDERCHILD FIRST NATION, Sask.

Eldon Okanee and a group of like-minded individuals are challenging the election system on the Thunderchild First Nation.

Okanee, a candidate for chief in the Dec. 3 Thunderchild election, developed a seven-member party to run under the banner Coalition for Change for the seven positions on council. It becomes one of the first party-style election campaigns for Saskatchewan First Nations, and Okanee thinks it could be the beginning of a trend in band politics.

The Coalition for Change has developed an extensive party platform that it presented at a coalition candidates' forum held in Saskatoon in early November. The platform includes initiatives that provide consideration to the 500-plus Thunderchild members living off-reserve.

Voting privileges have been extended to off-reserve members for the first time in the band's election history and the voting age has been lowered to 18 from 21 years of age thanks to Okanee's lobbying efforts to the previous council.

Advance polls held on Nov. 23 in Saskatoon and Nov. 25 in Edmonton allowed urban members input into deciding who will next lead the community.

"It's something they deserve and many don't have the time, gas or vehicle to come out to the reserve to vote," said Okanee.

There are four candidates vying for the position of chief and 31 for council.

The Coalition for Change promises to create an off-reserve office, appoint an urban councilor, and designate 22 of the 40 new homes to be built in the next four years at Thunderchild to off-reserve members who want to return home.

"Urban members can't come home unless they have something to come home to," Okanee said.

But the platform's not all about off-reserve concerns. The coalition promises to seek out economic development opportunities in the natural resource and agriculture sectors, and improve access to essential services and facilities on reserve. The coalition is suggesting that a bank, post office, and laundry facilities be established at Thunderchild, as well as an arena and a swimming pool.

Okanee's vision is to lead band politics away from the old band election style where the largest family group won the seats on council.

"It was a popularity contest with candidates running for different positions alongside relatives and those with big families would get more votes and end up in office," explained Dwaine Noon, co-ordinator of the candidate's forum.

"The Coalition for Change has a unified slate of candidates to cover each position on council and voters know that this party will work well together, a radical departure from the old political alliances that worked along family lines after election," he added.

"We want to represent all the people," said Okanee.

Also new in Thunderchild is the Family Representative Assembly, a grassroots group made up of representatives from each of the 22 family groups at Thunderchild that will lobby, provide feedback and bring the concerns of community to the attention of the new council.