Deb Foxcroft of Tseshaht and Cliff Atleo of Ahousaht are vying for the position of president of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council. The vote will be held today, the first morning of the tribal council’s Annual General Meeting Sept. 23 and Sept. 24.
The two candidates met on Sunday evening, Sept. 22, for a forum held at the Barclay Hotel in Port Alberni where they presented their experience and vision for the organization to Tribal Council Society members.
Also presenting his election platform was Ken Watts of Tseshaht, who went without challenge for the position of Vice President. A vote will be held by Society members that will decide whether to accept Watts to the position, which he has held since this time last year.
The candidates were given 10 minutes each to make an opening statement before taking questions; initially, 30 minutes were set aside for the Q and A portion, but the session went on for 90 minutes.
Atleo is the incumbent, and has decades of political experience, having worked for the Native Brotherhood for 11 years, sat on the Salmon Commission, and most recently, in his role as NTC president, helped usher in the First Nations Health Authority. He describe the FNHA as “… incredible potential for change,” and a “real opportunity for all of our people… our health authority as quu-us,” in partnership with B.C. and Canada.
Atleo also spoke of the importance of language, the traditional governance structure of the nations, fisheries and the historic recognition of Nuu-chah-nulth commercial fishing rights in Canada’s courts, and the achievement of the Maa-nulth nations in treaty.
Foxcroft is the recipient of the Order of British Columbia. She too is an accomplished leader who counts among her achievements the development and implementation of the first delegated First Nations Child and Family Services Agency in B.C. (USMA, Nuu-chah-nulth).
Foxcroft said her candidacy focuses on five areas: Leadership (lobbying and negotiating with provincial and federal governments); organizational development with a clear sense of issues and priorities of the Nuu-chah-nulth communities; relationships, amongst the Nuu-chah-nulth nations and with government and outside agencies; Communication; and Language and Culture, the essence, she said, of the survival, dignity and well-being of the Nuu-chah-nulth people.
Foxcroft worked with the tribal council for 17 years in health and social services, and about 10 years with the Tseshaht Nation in social development.
Foxcroft describes herself as determined and committed. She said she believes in the Nuu-chah-nulth people and that the people must have a voice. She is a positive person who wants to be involved with change, she said. Foxcroft described her advocacy roles, her experience with lobbying, mediation and conflict resolution, and her position with the government of British Columbia, where she advised ministers and deputy ministers.
Watts noted that the tribal council was celebrating its 40th anniversary, saying the Nuu-chah-nulth have led the way in education and the programs and services it offers to Nuu-chah-nulth people. He said the next 40 years will be just as exciting.
Watts has only been in the job for one year, and says he has started to settle into the position. He has been asked to sit on a nationwide working committee on income assistance. He was also asked to be the mover on a First Nations education resolution at the Assembly of First Nations gathering this summer. And locally, he is assisting two First Nations on their boundary concerns.
The questions asked of the candidates were wide ranging, and included such topics as support of the economic development goals of the nations, protecting resources, Nuu-chah-nulth unity, improving relations between USMA and the nations, push-back on recent cutbacks to social assistance for those living in remote communities, job creation, the working relationship of traditional leadership and elected leadership, and the frustrating lack of progress on the implementation of the hard-fought commercial fishing rights.
Watts noted the interconnectedness of all the question topics; improvements in one area would lead to improvement in others, he said. Watts railed against the federal Conservative government, saying Canada has too often ignored First Nations positions on issues of importance, including Bill C-38, the omnibus legislation, which inspired the Idle No More Movement of last winter.
“The government was scared what the people were going to do next,” Watts said. “Never underestimate the power of our people.”
He said he spent a lot of time last year putting out fires, with cut after cut to programs and services, and he said it’s time to vote out this government. “Our people have to get out to vote.”
Foxcroft spoke about unity and the strength of the Nuu-chah-nulth when they stand together. She said what scares most governments is going to the media. She said Nuu-chah-nulth had to take every opportunity to say what they need and want and speak with one voice.
Curtis Dick, chief councillor of Ahousaht, asked how the candidates would handle the social services funding cuts to remote communities.
Atleo described a recent trip to Ottawa where he and Watts lobbied government representatives for movement on the commercial fishing rights negotiations. He said social development was also brought to government’s attention. He said he plans to continue talks in future meetings with senior officials. He also spoke about the opportunities in other sectors, like forestry, to bring work to the communities. The important component of success being to structure business development on Nuu-chah-nulth beliefs and values.
Foxcroft said Nuu-chah-nulth should stand up to any policy that impacts communities, even beyond social development. She said alternatives were needed to social assistance, including training, self-employment and skills development.
Watts said he was in talks with the Nuu-chah-nulth Economic Development Corporation to bring about a conference on economic development that focused on business partnerships, and suggested Nuu-chah-nulth nations look to what the New Relationship Trust is doing around pooling resources for investment purposes. He also said the Maa-nulth Nations were doing important work in economic development and could be used as a resource.
Today’s vote will begin at 9 a.m. and delegates will have 90 minutes to cast their ballots. The tribal council AGM will be held at Maht Mahs gym on Tseshaht territory near Port Alberni.
