2011 Federal Elections – Call for Aboriginal Representation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE

2011 Federal Elections – Call for Aboriginal Representation

Kahnawake, April 26, 2011

‐ Quebec Native Women (QNW) welcomes the decision of the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada (LPC), Michael Ignatieff, to expel its candidate in Manicouagan, André Forbes, for racists statements made against Aboriginal peoples notably in Le Soleil in 2002.

It is unfortunate that a political party candidate, who wishes to represent his constituents and the population, would make such offensive and ignorant statements. We encourage political leaders in their actions intended to better understand and include Aboriginal peoples’ concerns in their political debates.

We also acknowledge the presence of two Aboriginal candidates in the upcoming Federal elections, advancing the cause of Aboriginal representation in government. We speak here of Roméo Saganash, candidate for the New Democratic Party (NDP) in the riding of Abitibi‐Baie‐James‐Nunavik‐Eeyou and Jonathan Genest‐Jordan (NDP) in Manicouagan.

In the context of colonization, feelings of exclusion and non‐representation can attest to the high rates of non‐participation of First Nations at the polls.

But we are now called to choose who governs in Ottawa. QNW is concerned by the policies and decisions made in Ottawa that affect all of us. We encourage First Nations of Quebec to be heard and for all levels of government to hear our voices.




Michèle Audette
QNW President

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For more information please contact Mélissa MollenDupuis, Communication Officer :450‐632‐0088 ext 221 or at communication@faq‐qnw.org.

Business Complex River Road, P.O.Box 1989, Kahnawake, Québec J0L 1B0 Téléphone : (450) 632-0088 Télécopieur : (450) 450-632-9280 Site Internet : www.faq-qnw.org
Courriel : info@faq-qnw.org