The Tsilhqot’in National Government is using social media to endorse its own list of candidates in the race for Williams Lake mayor and council.
In a Facebook post Monday, Oct. 15, the TNG noted it endorses Surinderpal Rathor for mayor and in order, ranked from one to six, Ivan Bonnell, Tom Hoffman, Marnie Brenner, Jodie Capling, Craig Smith and Natasha Wiebe for council.
Chief Joe Alphonse, TNG tribal chairman, told the Tribune each election the TNG receives questions from many community members asking for information about the candidates.
“Sixty per cent of our population lives off reserve and I would say about 85 per cent of those people live in Williams Lake,” Alphonse said. “Mayor and council are going to have an impact on on-reserve and off-reserve people living in Williams Lake.”
As for the list of endorsed candidates, he said it represents an equal representation of women and men.
“If others get elected I would be open to work with them as I have in the past.”
When asked how he would feel if local governments published a list of endorsed candidates for a First Nations band election, Alphonse said he thinks it happens across the board.
“Go on the Williams Lake Speak Up page and you will see comments about the Anaham election every election. We are not telling white people who to vote for. We are telling our members if you are going to vote this is who we are recommending you stand beside. This is not a communist law, we are not forcing people, but people want to know who we are going to support. Who they decided to vote for is entirely up to them. It’s a free country.”
The TNG is hosting host a “meet some of the candidates” event on Friday, Oct. 19 at the negotiations and external affairs building located in the the former Kwaleen Elementary School at 1729 South Lakeside Drive from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
In a previous Facebook post the TNG encouraged all of its members to vote for the Cariboo Regional District elections, outlining the voting stations and the candidates.
“While the CRD doesn’t have a say over your community, they do have a say over the surrounding non-first nation communities. By getting out and voting, you are able to shape how things are done in the Tsilhqot’in Territory outside your community,” the TNG notice stated.
Read more: Video: Tribune asks election candidates questions at meet and greet
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