Urban Indians Welcome Ruling On Band Elections

Friday, August 31, 2007 at 14:49

 

 

A ruling by an Ontario court that all First Nations citizens living off-reserve can now run in band council elections is being welcomed by urban Aboriginal people in this province.

 

Last week, a judge struck down part of an election provision in the Indian Act that required members to live on-reserve to run for council.

 

Burt O’Soup lives and works in Saskatoon, but is a member of the Key First Nation.

 

O’Soup thinks this is a good ruling.

 

He says allowing off-reserve members to run means other perspectives will be heard at the band council level.

 

O’Soup says many candidates who live off-reserve will have gone to school or started up a business while in an urban setting — and can offer much to their band.

 

But he does think there need to be certain stipulations attached to this development, such as forcing a successful off-reserve council candidate to move back to the reserve.

 

O’Soup says this would help ensure the elected member is held accountable to the electorate.