by Xavier Kataquapit
My home community of Attawapiskat First Nation will be holding a local election this month on August 29. It is an exciting time not just for those living in the community but for those members, like myself, who now live and work in southern cities and towns away from the James Bay coast.
This will officially be the first community election where off-reserve members who don’t reside in the community will have the opportunity to vote for their leadership. Although off reserve voting had occurred in previous elections, it was in a very limited capacity.
This will be the first ever organized effort by local election officials to widely include off reserve members. Election officials will travel to Timmins on August 18, Sudbury on August 20, North Bay on August 21, Kingston on August 23, Cochrane on August 25 and Moosonee on August 27.
As plans are being finalized, members are being asked to stay in contact with election officials and to monitor notices provided on the Facebook group pages ‘ACB – Attawapiskat Community Bulletin’ and the newly created group page ‘Attawapiskat First Nation Election 2025’.
Many First Nations across the country are now implementing ways to allow their membership whether they are on-reserve or off-reserve to take part in community elections. Neighbouring community Fort Albany First Nation recently conducted a bi-election for two First Nation Councillors in their community in October 2024 using One Feather, an Indigenous tech and services company located in Victoria, British Columbia that provides services to allow First Nations to conduct secure digital voting events for any individual regardless of their location. Hopefully, communities like Attawapiskat FN can take advantage of services like this in future elections.
In this latest election for Attawapiskat FN leadership, there are an estimated 3,035 eligible voters with about two thirds of that vote residing in the community and the remainder with off-reserve membership.
I remember growing up in Attawapiskat and witnessing the excitement of our local elections first hand. In the 1980s and into the early 1990s, there was no internet, no cable TV and radio broadcasts were limited to just a few hours of air time with Wawatay Radio. Everyone was always looking for something exciting to do in the community and when elections rolled around, voters took part as one mass gathering. It was usually multiple events over a month in the summer as nominations had to be held first to select candidates. These events were held at the local gym at the old JR Nakogee Elementary School and the place would be packed with almost the entire community. As children, we always knew something big was happening when we saw our normally quiet and conservative Elders standing up to cheer, clap and call out their candidates and promote them to everyone.
Here is a partial historic list of Chiefs of Attawapiskat FN I found through an online search of government documents. The document only provided a listing of Chiefs from 1929 to 1991. These Chiefs were Chief Xavier Chookomolin, 1929; Chief John Nakooche, 1932; Chief David Hookemawillillene, 1941; Chief James Kataquapit, 1945; Chief John Nakogee, 1948; Chief Alex Wesley, 1951; Chief Xavier Tookata, 1957; Chief Joseph Iahtail, 1960, 1962; Chief George Kebokee, 1964; Chief Antoine Wheesk, 1969; Chief Emileon Nakogee, 1971; Chief Antoine Wheesk, 1973; Chief Emile Nakogee, 1975; Chief Fred P. Wesley, 1977, 1979; Chief Louis Sutherland, 1981; Chief John B. Nakogee, 1983; Chief Reg Louttit, 1984; Chief Fred P. Wesley, 1987; Chief Reginald Louttit, 1987, 1989 and Chief Ignace Gull, 1991.
Since 1991, the community has elected (in no particular order) Chief Ignace Gull, Chief Mike Carpenter, Chief Bruce Shisheesh and Chief David Nakogee. Our First woman Chief was Chief Theresa Hall who was then followed up by other local women including Chief Theresa Spence and our current Chief Sylvia Koostachin-Metatawabin. As another historic note, our first women in leadership were Councillors Lottie Hookimaw in 1971, Mary Lou Iahtail and Angela Shisheesh in 1973 and Martha Sutherland in 1975.
The position of Chief of the community for 2025 will be chosen from the following candidates: incumbent Chief Sylvia Koostachin-Metatawabin, Raphael Bonez Wheesk, Paul Wesley, Conrad Iahtail and David Freitag Nakogee.
I was happy to take part in the nomination process on line and to see the long list of candidates that will be working towards the additional positions of one Deputy Chief and 11 Council positions.
I wish all the candidates for the election the best of luck in everything they do. I know that even if they don’t achieve their positions, they will still play roles in our local leadership and in supporting our community.
