Northern Secwepemc te Qelmucw (NStQ) leaders are looking forward to the Agreement-in-Principle (AiP) treaty referendum re-vote for Williams Lake Indian Band (T’exelc) membership today (April 28).
On Feb. 11, three of the four NStQ member communities held successful AiP referendums in their communities.
However, the referendum at the Williams Lake Indian Band polling station was suspended midday after being disrupted by a group of protestors opposed to the treaty.
While membership of Soda Creek (Xats’ūll), Canim Lake (Tsq’escen’) and Canoe Creek/Dog Creek (Stswecem’c/Xgat’tem) bands each voted in favour of moving forward into Final Negotiations (Stage 5 of the six-stage treaty process), membership of Williams Lake Indian Band (T’exelc) have been waiting to cast their vote.
“NStQ treaty team staff and our four community councils have worked diligently for 20-plus years on treaty negotiations," says Chief Ann Louie of the Williams Lake Indian Band (WLIB).
"This has benefitted all of our NStQ communities in many ways, mainly in the natural resource departments.
During our Sixth Annual Citizens’ Assembly held over two days last week, Chief Louie says they heard about the impacts our citizens continue to face under the colonial Indian Act, and I heard nothing positive about our people continuing to be governed under this archaic act.
"It is clear the status-quo is no longer acceptable. Therefore, WLIB council is requesting the support of our membership to get out and vote on April 28 to help us move into Stage 5, joining our other three communities that have voted to continue in our treaty negotiations.”
Northern Shuswap Tribal Council board of directors chairperson Chief Donna Dixon of Soda Creek Indian Band says she fully supports the WLIB.
“I applaud them for once again providing their members the opportunity to cast their votes and have their voices heard. I think it's important to note that the decision to move forward at many treaty tables is made by the leadership.
"However, our communities of Soda Creek, Canim Lake, Canoe Creek, and now Williams Lake had decided it was important for our membership to be able to vote on the decision of whether we move forward into the next stage of the treaty process.”
Eligible WLIB members 18 years of age and older will vote on the following ballot question: “Do you support the recommendation of the NStQ Leadership Council to proceed to Final Agreement Negotiations?”
Elizabeth Grouse Gymnasium at Sugar Cane will once again be the polling station and will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on April 28.
RCMP and security personnel will be in place to assure a safe, respectful voting environment for all membership to cast their ballots.
