Vote-buying allegations on Sask. First Nation show 'people are speaking up': professor
Despite allegations of vote-buying and influence peddling on the Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation in Saskatchewan, a professor who specializes in northern governance is arguing that the fact such allegations are coming to light is a healthy sign of democracy on the reserve.
"I'm really happy to see this happening because, on the other hand, it also shows that community members are speaking up," said University of Saskatchewan professor Ken Coates. "The essence of a democracy is not having police going around and having police enforce a whole bunch of rules all the time.
"It's actually people policing themselves."
The Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation sits about 300 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon. On Wednesday, CBC News reported that 12 people on the reserve said they've accepted cash in return for votes in different band council elections.
Coates joined Saskatoon Morning host Leisha Grebinski on Friday to add some context to the situation and allegations.
He emphasized how people speaking out is "a sign of people that are willing to stand up and take this stand and insist on proper practices."
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Coares said that will affect future elections and events because now "everyone is going to be watching them now to prove, in fact, that they have clean and ethical elections in that community."
Vote-buying generally uncommon
Far from popular conceptions, Coates said vote-buying and influence peddling on First Nations is "nowhere near as common as people like to think." He said comes up once every three or four years across the country.
Coates said news outlets will regularly pick up such stories because they make big headlines.
In the case of Makwa Sahgaiehcan, one man brought forward his allegation of a $1,500 offer to the RCMP. The police force said there's not enough evidence to pursue an investigation.
Those who have spoken out are using the best means they have, according to Coates.
"The means they have is the one they used, which is to talk up about it."
Speaking out has consequences for alleged bribers: Coates
It's hard to find the actual evidence of vote-buying, Coates said, or even offering to buy votes because such cases usually boil down to he-said, she-said contests.
"The folks doing this aren't stupid," he said. "Though they might be acting inappropriately."
Based on his knowledge and research, Cotes said that speaking out will force strong supervision in future elections, and those making vote-buying offers are usually booted out via low vote counts.
Despite the initial negative repercussions on a band facing such allegations, the long-term impacts for business can actually be positive, he argued.
"Over a short period of time, those agencies look and say, 'Boy those communities are really engaging in some very robust and important political conversations.' And they'll see a new set of leaders come forward."
Coates said he also sees the Makwa Sahgaiehcan case as an example of a generational shift of aboriginal leaders across the country. That group of leaders, he said, is one of autonomous, self-governance that doesn't need to rely on Ottawa for regulation and direction.
