Residents of Six Nations, the largest reserve in Canada, cast their votes to elect a new chief.

On Saturday morning, polling stations opened in Six Nations of the Grand River, allowing members to participate in the election of a new chief and council. However, Sherlene Bomberry, a Cayuga woman and member of the Wolf Clan, does not intend to exercise her voting rights. She has never participated in an election.

“I go to the longhouse … the ceremonies are my guides,” Bomberry, who is also a residential school survivor, told CBC Hamilton on Thursday.

Mark Hill, the incumbent chief, is resigning from his elected position. In the 2019 election, voter turnout was notably low, with only 1,716 valid ballots cast for the chief (excluding spoiled ballots), representing approximately seven percent of the community.

Six Nations is home to over 25,000 band members, with more than 12,000 residing in the community located about 40 kilometers south of Hamilton, making it the most populous First Nations reserve in Canada. Its territory encompasses the Haldimand Tract, a land area around the Grand River that was granted to Six Nations in 1784. Today, 38 municipalities in southern Ontario are situated on land originally belonging to Six Nations.

While the exact number of voters for the upcoming 2023 election remains uncertain, this year’s election holds particular significance. Members will have the opportunity to vote for a new chief and 12 councillors, three more than in the previous 2019 election.

Mark Hill, aged 33, made the announcement on September 23 that he would not seek reelection for a second term as the chief of the elected council. He has been a member of the council since the age of 19 and was elected as chief in 2019, garnering 700 votes.

The majority of his tenure as chief coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, during which he and the elected council played a significant role in responding to the pandemic’s impact on the community.

Attempts to contact Hill for a comment were unsuccessful.

 

According to Dorothy Patterson, who assumed the role of chief electoral polling officer just a month before the election, there are two candidates vying for the position of the next elected chief.

Sherri-Lyn Hill, a current councillor, holds certification as a First Nations addictions counsellor with Native Wind Consulting.

Steve Williams, a former elected chief and former chief electoral polling officer, also serves as the chair of the Six Nations Police Commission. Additionally, Williams holds the position of president at the Grand River Enterprises cigarette company.

 

The upcoming elected chief will collaborate with a team of 12 councillors. Dorothy Patterson indicated that there are 13 individuals contending for these 12 positions, ensuring the election of all but one councillor candidate.

In a recent debate organized by Turtle Island News and CKRZ 100.3 FM, Hill and Williams presented their cases for the chief position.

Hill highlighted her key community concerns, which encompass mental health and addictions, housing, language and culture preservation, and economic sustainability. She proposed solutions such as:

1. Establishing 24/7 mental health and addictions services, coupled with an increase in safe beds and community outreach.
2. Reforming housing policies to align with Indigenous values, including promoting tiny homes and emergency housing options.
3. Encouraging all age groups to engage in Indigenous language and cultural learning, while also creating space for the return of cultural artifacts.
4. Pursuing economic sustainability through avenues like a casino, a substantial egg farm, or securing federal grants, with an emphasis on saving lives through essential programs.

Williams, on the other hand, emphasized his primary community issues as financial stability, improving the quality of life for seniors, addressing housing challenges, enhancing education, and improving roads and water infrastructure. His proposed solutions included:

1. Reassessing the community’s financial standing to ensure stability.
2. Prioritizing the well-being of senior citizens.
3. Seeking federal funding to address housing issues within Six Nations.
4. Enhancing funding for schools and increasing the number of Indigenous teachers.
5. Implementing measures to charge trucks for passing through the territory and expanding the water system.”

 

The election is scheduled for Saturday, running from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Please note that online voting will not be available this year. The sole voting location is at the community hall on 4th Line.

To be eligible to vote, individuals must be 18 years of age or older. Any registered member of Six Nations is entitled to vote, regardless of whether they reside on the reserve.