Eastman faces experienced field in Canupawakpa election for chief

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This article was published 18/01/2018 (3047 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The race for chief in Thursday’s election at Canupawakpa Dakota First Nation is comprised of five experienced politicians.

As many as 490 potential voters will have to choose between incumbent Chief Viola Eastman, past chiefs Franklin Brown and Delbert Cruise, past councillor Raymond Brown and current Coun. Marlene Demas.

Franklin Brown was chief until 2013, when he resigned in the fallout of a controversial contraband smoke shop he helped run being shut down.

He was one of five men charged in relation to the Dakota Chundee Smoke Shop, which they described as being about more than cheap cigarettes, but also the sovereignty and the economic aspirations of aboriginal people.

In his resignation letter while stepping down as chief, Brown wrote that he didn’t want to be recognized as “an Indian agent of the federal government,” but a “private person with private rights.”

Cruise succeeded Brown, followed by Eastman, who is seeking another term.

The 2016 election wasn’t her first kick of the can, having served as chief for four years beginning in 2004 and councillor for the four years that followed that.

“I come from a political background,” she said, adding that her grandfather, Kenneth Eastman, was Canupawakpa’s first elected chief, and her father, Frank Eastman, also served as chief.

“Politics has always been a part of our lives at the dinner table, we always talk about what we can do to improve our community and help out people; it’s always been a part of our lives,” she said.

The past two years were all about restoring the community’s finances, Eastman said, adding that she went into the two-year term with the community under co-management, meaning Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada carried heavy oversight over their finances, which restricted what they were able to do.

After one year, Eastman said they found success in restoring their financial status, and by year two they were able to purchase two new school buses and a grader.

On Nov. 17 of last year, they received confirmation that they were no longer under co-management, which Eastman said has opened a world of possibilities for the community.

If re-elected, Eastman said she would focus on economic development, such as the construction of a gas station and the development of land they’ve purchased off Highway 83, which she hopes to see turned into reserve land and house a coffee shop and similar such attractions.

Now that they’re no longer under co-management, Eastman said she’d also like to see new housing constructed in the community, since they haven’t had new housing “for many years.”

“I know that I’ve done the best I can and I’m still willing to do more for my community, and I think that we really need to focus on the community members and just try to get them more jobs,” she said. “There are no jobs in the community, so they have to go off the community for jobs.”

It’s on this front that fellow candidate Raymond Brown said he would also like to see the community improve.

Brown, who served on council a few decades ago, said he considers a recent partnership between the community and Assiniboine Community College as one of their greatest recent success stories, which he’d like to see expanded upon in the coming years.

In 2016, 10 students graduated from the six-month comprehensive health-care aide program in a ceremony at the community’s recreational complex. Some graduates subsequently took part in a practical nursing program in Melita.

It’s difficult for students to leave their home community to attend post-secondary institutions, Brown said, adding that the cost of accommodations is often out of reach.

Education is nonetheless important, which is why he said that more on-reserve educational opportunities need to take place.

Self-sufficiency through education is the top thing that Brown said he is advocating for leading into today’s election.

Regardless of whether he wins, Brown said he plans to continue doing whatever he can to help his community.

Eastman shared a similar sentiment, adding that she is particularly enthused to see so many young people among the 15 names running for one of two councillor positions that are open.

Overseen by Indian Band Election Regulations, terms are two years, and electoral officer Burke Ratte said voter turnout is typically between 40 and 45 per cent.

Under regulations, councillor candidates have to be a tribal member; those running for chief do not. Even so, Ratte said that all five candidates for chief are, in fact, Canupawakpa Dakota First Nation members.

The Brandon Sun reached out to all five candidates through the Canupawakpa band office, but after two days only Eastman and Raymond Brown had responded by press time on Wednesday.

» tclarke@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB