The Wesley First Nation will be voting for a new chief and council on Dec. 7. This will be a short campaign. Candidates will have two days to campaign once a final list is posted Dec. 5. This means that as voters we will have a very short timeframe to make informed decisions. There are six candidates nominated for the position of chief and 21 for councillor. Chief Ernest Wesley, who has served 22 years in office, will face potential challenges by sitting councillor Watson Kaquitts, John Abraham, Tater House, Clifford Poucette and Rachel Snow. Candidates for elected office have a lot to consider. The Stoney Nakoda Nation is in a situation where natural gas revenue is in a steady decline. Stoney Nakoda Resort has not met expectations and the land designation referendum was defeated. Elected officials should now consider new economic development options and innovative ways to create employment. Unemployment is high in our community. Stoney Tribal Administration and its umbrella organizations cannot employ everyone. However, it should employ as many band members as possible. I would encourage candidates for office and all leaders to consider initiating a review of Stoney Tribal Administration. That is to establish a committee of Stoney people to evaluate Stoney Tribal Administration and determine what positions can be filled by our own people. I write as an advocate for my people and not as an anti-colonial anarchist. I respect the countless number of non-Native people who have come through this community to lend their expertise. Many have come to empower our people and make lasting contributions. However, there are those who seem to prefer to hire non-Stoney professionals. It is a culture that has seemingly developed within Stoney Tribal Administration. A culture that disregards Indigenous knowledge and the expertise held by knowledge keepers and spiritual leaders. In a recent job posting, Stoney Health Services advertised for a Mental Health Services Manager. In recruiting for this position, they seek a person with a bachelor’s degree in health or social services. However, applicants holding a master’s degree are preferred. This effectively rules out Stoney applicants because there are only two people with graduate degrees in social services in our community. It also rules out people with high levels of education in terms of culture, tradition, language, and spirituality. Executives and directors fail to consider the value of Stoney Nakoda knowledge and wisdom by restricting employment to those holding master’s degrees. It is a process that positions western knowledge over Indigenous knowledge. We are still in a situation where leadership continues to look to non-Stoney professionals. It is understandable why this is. As products of residential school, many of our parents were conditioned to believe that we, as First Nations, were inferior. Many still believe that today. It will take leaders committed to empowering the people to initiate change. Leaders who believe that yes, we can! Who will be those leaders?
