Some changes are coming to the election procedures on Poundmaker First Nation.
Voters on the reserve approved the Poundmaker Cree Band Custom Election Act this past week. Vote results March 15 indicated the act was passed by a vote of 147 yes votes to 78 no votes, with two spoiled ballots.
The vote came after a process begun in 2008 by Roseanne Antoine in consultation with band members. In 2012, then Councillor Paul Favel secured funding from Aboriginal Affairs to keep the process going towards the vote held this week.
The final step is for chief and council to sign off on the act and send it to Aboriginal Affairs. This is considered a formality.
Previous Poundmaker elections were based on a clearly defined oral code passed down through the generations. Members voted by a transparent show of hands.
The reserve did not have a modern day election until lifetime Chief Thomas Favel left due to old age in the 1970s. Elections have been held since then, but supporters of the new act say the process began to break down due to conflicts over the understanding of the oral election code.
Proponents of the election act say they hope it will restore order in coming elections. Among the provisions is the requirement that candidates must be free from having been convicted of any indictable offences within the past five years, and for voting to take place both in urban centres and on the reserve. Also spelled out is a clear non-confidence and impeachment process.
