On November 5th, my community kicked off that event that comes every 4 years. It’s called the “Squamish Nation Election”.

First…a preamble:

• The Squamish Nation elects 16 positions for it’s Council.
• It also elects it’s Band Manager
• There are no elected “chiefs”
• The Squamish Nation is the only nation that elects it’s Band Manager.
• It is a completely faulty, anarchistic, and damaging system of government.

The Squamish Nation elects 16 candidates for it’s Band Council, and 1 candidate for Band Manager. In this election, we have 72 candidates running for Council, and 4 running for Band Manager.

Leading up to the crazy-season, I set my own intention that I would be heavily involved to accomplish strategic goals and objectives. At the same time, I was very resolute that I would not running for Council. Although I had numerous friends and family encouraging me to run, I ultimately had to disappoint many be declining to run. I made the moral choice to stand by my principles of decolonization, anti-colonialism, and liberation. It is a decision I am very proud of. Unfortunately most may not understand the full rationale for not running, I will live a life of intention and integrity knowing that I stood by my principles, and lead an example of leadership for posterity.

I do plan on expanding on this further after the election.

Reasons for War

My strategic objectives and goals involved bringing down the status-quo and “Old Guard”. It also involved replacing them (in a gamble) with new candidates who possibly may be more involved and responsive to the community. That was a simple practice never followed or even understood by this current Council. Sad, but it’s true.

The rationale for setting out this came from my profound belief that in allowing the “Old Guard”, “Boys Club”, and “Status-quo” to continue would only lead to a more disastrous future for my community. I felt that although many will cry for change, I had the tactics, knowledge, and passion to actually make it happen. Achieving this is paramount because the risk in not removing them from power is allowing them to continue on their destructive and highly self-interested agenda. This same agenda has been held so secretively and only represses the community from ever being actively involved. We deserve a new standard of leadership, and I knew I had to do something to bring it about.

Community Organizing in the Campaign Season

The “All Candidates Forum” was an event I knew had to be organized. An opportunity and space for the community to bare witness to the likeness and possibilities we could elect to leadership. Although wanted in the past, few had the intention or determination to accomplish it.

At the Nomination Meeting for the Election, I announced to the community I would help organize the “All Candidates Meeting”. Two events would be held, in North Vancouver and Squamish Valley, and all candidates would be able to share their platform, then response to questions coming from the community. Through the kind support and help from Monica Jacobs in the Squamish Nation, the events became a wonderful success.

They created a space for the community to take witness to both the bumbling foolishness of both current Councilors and some candidates. The community was invited to submit questions that will be drawn at random and asked on the spot to candidates. These questions ranged on issues important to the community, and were a wide range of depth. Some examples included:

• In education, what proposals or changes would you make to support Special Needs students within the school system?
• How would you support small-business within the Squamish Nation?
• How do you plan on expanding the language program?
• What is your involvement with tradition and culture, and how will you contribute to it?

At both events, we had around 40-60 questions. Candidates names would be drawn out of a box, along with a question that is drawn. They were given two minutes to respond.

In the aftermath of both events, I felt three categories of candidates appeared.

• Candidates that did extremely well in their responses.
• Candidates that did uninspiring and mediocre.
• Then candidates that either didn’t know what they were talking about, or totally failed at answering the question.

During the question periods, there was a high number of candidates who skirted around the issue, or flat-out didn’t answer the question at all. Granted, they may have little to no prior knowledge to the issue, but many of the candidates who didn’t respond to the question at all did have knowledge of the issue, but just failed at responding or proposing anything new on it.

The brilliant side-effect and ironic part of the event was candidates being questioned in issues they had no experience or knowledge in. The economic-development nutballs were not being asked about economic-development; they were being asked about language and culture. The longtime Councilors were not asked about business and governance, they were asked about youth safety issues with alcohol and addictions. The young candidate who’s traveled every outside his community and has a business degree, being asked about his knowledge of our traditional territory and how important this was to decision-making. It became a strong point to make about where the community seen as the important issues were.

Contrasting “Community’s”

There has long been a divide between Squamish Valley and North Vancouver. I personally feel the lack of vision or respect from leadership in North Vancouver towards the Squamish Valley is to be held responsible for this. Simple leadership qualities of being aware of your people, and being able to listen to them without ego would have prevented or alleviate this issue, but it persists where the inequality is embarrassing and egregious.

I knew heading into the Squamish Valley “All Candidates Forum” would be dramatically unlike the North Vancouver event. My premonition was around the sense of “community” that exists within Squamish Valley that North Vancouver sorely lacks. The sense I gathered from the city was a “What you going to do for me?” attitude. The feeling I gathered from Squamish Valley was a more, “What are your proposals and idea’s?”. The tone was set different. The intention from the community in attendance was different. Even the quality of questions was amazingly more valuable to dialogue.

The real sweet-spot was during the final moments of the event. A few members asked to end with a closing prayer or song which I neglected to have happen during the first. We sang a warrior song to end on a powerful note. Yet once the last drum beat pounded the drum, there was already an intention to continue the ‘good feeling’. We sang two more songs, with our community, in a circle, and really brought our good feelings to everyone. This strong intention of iyim skwalwens brought the songs out beautiful, and a old teachings of what our traditional singing is actually about.

Before leaving to make my journey home, I glanced at all the slips of paper that held the questions from the evening. In a quick thought, I realized I had found content for my blog! Through out the night, I feel very disappointed by the lack of innovation, insight, or approach to major issues to the community. I also asked, “How would I answer those questions, if I were the one responding?” In taking the questions, I had the idea that over the next month I would respond to a question a day. Perhaps even give myself a limit on what my respond could be (300 words?).

I will say now though, some of my responses may only be a test of the water with my community. Proposals, idea’s, and concepts that are open for discussion to be formulated. I always want to take direction for my community. The role of the revolutionary leader is to act dialogically with the oppressed, not to direct them how things should be done. To do so would only further oppress them, and not lead to liberation.

So stay tuned as I begin to lay out brief glimpses into my work for my community as I respond to all the major issues my community identifies.