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Squamish Nation goes to the polls

Squamish Valley members hope for better representation

Squamish Nation members from North Vancouver to Lillooet and beyond are going to the polls Dec. 6 to determine which 16 candidates they want representing them for the next four years. And the choice may not be an easy one with a significant 72 people stepping into the election race.

Although the number of individuals vying for a seat may seem enormous by many municipal standards in the province, it’s par for the course at Squamish Nation’s offices.

“It is about the same amount of candidates that ran in 2005,” said Chief Bill Williams, the council’s chair for the past four terms. “They have an interest in moving forward with what’s going on. The interest is there, which is absolutely fabulous.”

Along with council election, members will also choose the band manager from the four candidates in that race.

The campaign issues are “hot,” said Williams, who is seeking re-election. They resemble issues faced by non-native municipalities throughout the province and the country.

“[They range] from housing to education to language to culture to financial records to how many people are being involved in our culture.”

Of the 16 current councillors, four are recognized as hereditary chiefs following a tradition that began in 1900 when the 16 area reserves decided to band and strengthen numbers in the face of a federal government bent on “slicing and dicing” huge tracts of their land, said Williams.

The decision resulted in the amalgamation document of 1923, and was quickly followed by an agreement that when any one of the 16 chiefs retired, anyone from the community would be entitled to run for the council seat. (The agreement was amended to limit governance to four years in 1981.) The titled of hereditary chief would be conferred upon elected members who were direct descendants of a chief.

The chiefs also agreed to share their land assets and the revenue those may generate to all members of the newly-founded Squamish Nation, said Williams.

“They said ‘Any decisions made on any of these parcels of land has to be done at this chiefs table, and oh by the way, here’s the bankbook for this reserve... Any money derived from any of these lands will be processed through this bankbook to benefit everybody in the whole nation.’

“So not one individual will be missed out in getting a benefit from our land transactions,” he said.

But the divisions of a century ago may still be at work in Squamish Nation politics as Squamish Valley members express feelings of exclusion and lack of representation.

“We do not see most of them and don't know their [candidates’] portfolio and [they] are not transparent, and some we do not see until it’s time to vote,” said local Squamish Nation member Diana Billy.

The only local candidate running for election is current Squamish Nation councillor Dale Harry. Billy said locals want equality at the council table.

“We have no help in the Squamish Valley in regards to what goes in our backyard,” she said. “We wanted a gas station, and they’re putting in the casino and signage that they will make money on. So we do not see any funds work for our community.”

Local members had the opportunity to vote at advanced polls Thursday and Friday (Dec. 3 and 4).

Councillors have significant responsibilities, overseeing nine communities stretching from North Vancouver to the northern area of Howe Sound with 3,324 members live on-reserve over 6,732 sq. km.

The Squamish Nation’s main source of revenue is derived from 70 leases, including the Park Royal Shopping Centre, International Plaza, Greater Vancouver Storage Sewage Plant, and the Capilano Trailer Part, and nation-owned businesses, such as a marina, driving range, and gas bar.

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