Crystal Starr Lewis is about to become very busy indeed.
At 23 years old she’s one of the youngest candidates seeking a seat in this year’s election for Squamish Nation council.
Not only is she about to begin campaigning door-to-door, she’s studying to become a psychiatrist, co-ordinating a mental health conference, taking a carving course, and working as a cultural facilitator alongside Skwxw’u7mesh ethnobotanist, T’uy’tanat Cease Wyss.
“I’m a passionate leaner,” she enthused, explaining that her desire to learn was one of the reasons she entered politics.
“I believe in true leadership and in a diversity of people with different backgrounds and knowledge, and different strengths and gifts, all working together.”
Though she may be younger than many of her running mates, she’s not afraid to take on tough topics.
In speaking about past corruptions within the council she said,
“For change to happen we need to be involved and aware of everything going on around us. We need to take action and stand up for what we believe in; not be afraid to speak out or challenge ourselves to be the change maker.”
Her message to First Nations youth is to be the change you want to see.
“Believe in yourself and don’t be afraid to do the right thing… it’s never too late. The choice is always yours.”
Though her campaign platform is diverse, she focuses on sustainability and wellness.
“It is important to become sustainable within the environment, resources and within ourselves,” she said, explaining that she wants to set up more support programs within her community to help address mental illness and intergenerational trauma.
Addressing the housing crisis, protecting sacred land, and creating a transparent, more effective budget is also high on her list.
Generating wealth within her community, she said, is also important. “Wealth is more than just money. It is the wellness of my people and all aspects of their lives, and seeing them succeed and grow strong within their culture.”
Education, she said, is critical.
“I want to provide more educational opportunities and work our way towards creating more education funding within our Nation.”
Though she may appear young on paper, she’s had a lifetime of experiences already. All of which, she said, have shaped her into who she is today and contributed toward her political journey.
From a very young age, she was placed in multiple foster homes and experienced first-hand the damage alcohol can do. The real turning point was when her foster mom escaped the “vicious cycle”, chose sobriety over alcohol, and moved the family away.
It was then, at six years old, that she realized the impact of alcohol.
“I decided that I wanted things to be different for myself: that I wanted to be a good mom and never put my own [future] children through the experiences that I went through. I also wanted to be a leader like my mom who gave up alcohol for us.”
Since then, Lewis has dedicated her life to being drug and alcohol-free, to challenging herself (she’s received 38 various awards), to being involved in her community as much as possible, and to lead by example.
“I have my mom to thank… my life would have been completely different if it wasn’t for her,” she said.
Elections take place in December, though this won’t be Lewis’ first. She ran in 2013 when she was just 19 years old. Though she wasn’t elected at the time, she hopes the results this year will be much different.
