Editor:
I am a First Nations Elder and residential school survivor from Shackan Indian Reserve, located along the Nicola River.
I am frustrated with the lack of interest shown by the federal government and Elections Canada with regard to our band, particularly on the issue of riding boundaries.
Elections Canada states that I belong in and am federally represented in the Chilliwack-Hope riding. Why not the Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola riding, a place where my First Nations relations and ancestors have called home forever?
I believe I am being separated my from my family, relations, land and essential services — all without consultation.
Elections Canada and the Canadian government have redrawn my identity. They have done this by putting up arbitrary walls and invisible fences in the form of voting boundaries for federal representation in my traditional home.
I was stripped of my identity as a child, when the government removed me from the care of my father, mother and sister and placed me into a system of abuse.
I believe my human rights are again being violated in a way that mirrors residential school, as the Canadian government continues to confine and define me as they choose.
The Canadian government makes me a displaced person and a stranger in my own land.
There has never been consultation on election and representational boundaries between the Canadian government and Shackan Indian Band. If this is not bad enough, I have received faulty information both from Election Canada’s web page and by phone conversation with Elections Canada.
The process to obtain information on voting on Election Canada’s web page is to enter your postal code. My postal code (V1K 1B8) is in Merritt, as is every band member on Shackan Reserve. Most of our services, including band administration and land ownership exist in Merritt. I was told on Elections Canada’s website on Sept. 25, 2015, that postal code V1K 1B8 would vote in Merritt. No other search options. That is false information.
My husband, James Bergh, and myself began to converse on the phone with Elections Canada in January 2015 about this issue, but received no clarity. Again in February we complained about boundaries and that Shackan Band members do not receive the correct MP information while they are in government because of our postal code. We then phoned two Conservative MPs: Chuck Stall in Chilliwack and Dan Albas in Westbank. We told their staff about boundaries and representation. Both MP offices said to have Chief and Council write a letter of complaint and concern. This was done by the Shackan Band administration. The letters were sent to both MPs and Elections Canada.
When we spoke to Elections Canada in February 2015, after three transfers, we received information from Elections Canada that Shackan Indian Reserve, mentioned in the rules of Okanagan-Nicola stating, “All except Shackan Indian Band.” When asked which ridings country code mentions Shackan Indian Band, Elections Canada could not find Shackan Indian Band mentioned.
On Friday, Sept. 25, 2015. We again phoned Elections Canada to find the location of our polling station. After three transfers, we were told by Elections Canada we “do not know now, however you will be notified on your voter card, which should be arriving in the mail shortly.” We asked about those Shackan Band members who may not be receiving a voters card in the mail. Elections Canada refused to respond to where Shackan Indian Band’s polling station is going to be located.
The federal government has written off me and my band.
With sadness,
Betty-Jean Bergh, Kokowatko
Shackan Indian Band Elder
