Squamish Nation members last week approved a pair of measures aimed at opening up membership to more people, but rejected two others.
They also rejected an amendment to the Nation's membership code that would have changed the way the outcome of such votes is to be decided in the future.
The first of the two measures adopted in the vote on Thursday (April 4) will allow a person with Indian status under Bill C-3, an amendment to the Indian Act adopted by the federal government in 2010, and with at least one parent who is or could be a Squamish member to be regarded as a lineal member of the Nation.
The measure was adopted by a vote of 1,330 yes votes to 163 no and seven no answers. The latter are tallied as no votes. Under the Squamish Nation Membership Code, a vote of 50 per cent plus one of eligible electors in this case 2,608 is required for the proposal to be adopted.
Electors also consented, by a vote of 1,319-172-9, to an amendment to allow a Squamish descendant member's child whose other parent is non-Squamish status Indian to have membership as a descendant member.
In a blog entry posted before the vote, Squamish Nation leaders estimated that combined, the four membership-related measures on the ballot would affect the membership of about 200 people.
Band members are entitled to apply for services the band provides over and above health and education benefits, including housing, offered by the federal government.
Descendant members automatically pass on membership to their children, while lineal members can only pass on membership if they have a child with another lineal member. The number of descendant members has been declining in recent years while the number of lineal members has been rising, according to the blog.
Two separate membership-related measures were rejected even though a majority of those who voted cast ballots in favour. That's because the membership code requires a vote of 50 per cent plus one of the total number of eligible electors to vote in favour.
The measure that would have allowed a lineal member's child whose other parent is a non-Squamish status Indian to become a lineal member drew 1,253 yes votes just shy of the required 1,305. Nine-hundred eight voted in favour of a measure that would have allowed then non-Squamish status Indian male spouse of Squamish descendant member to apply for Squamish Nation membership as a acquired member.
Finally, electors were asked to vote on a measure to amend the membership code to allow such votes to be approved by 50 per cent plus one of those who vote in a referendum, not by the current method requiring that 50 per cent plus one of eligible electors. The measure failed when 999 voted yes, 490 voted no and fell into the no answer category.
In a statement issued after the vote, Squamish Nation chiefs and council thanked members for their participation in discussions aimed at formulating the referendum questions.
Over more than 25 months, our membership discussed, debated and determined not only the subject matters on which we voted but also the wording of the questions, and even how we voted. This is true engagement, the chiefs and council stated. This has been an historic referendum in years to come, we will speak of this being the first time we used online voting, as requested by our youth.
The leaders added, The high level of participation reflects the importance that our membership places on our families, as well as on the future of our nation.
With files from North Shore News
