Voter turnout in Eeyou Istchee is traditionally low. Some hope this election will be different

Cree communities in northern Quebec have historically seen low voter turnout in federal elections — but some in the region are hoping to see that trend turned around.

In 2021 federal election, Eeyou Istchee saw a 17.7 per cent voter turnout compared to 63.5 per cent for the province as a whole, according figures from Elections Canada.

It's a similar trend across the country, with Indigenous electors less likely to vote than non-Indigenous electors. 

Kara Louttit, an Indigenous senior policy analyst at the National Association of Friendship Centres in Ottawa, says there's a complicated relationship between Indigenous communities and elections.

"On one hand we have Indigenous peoples who assert their sovereignty through a rejection of participating in the electoral process," said Louttit, who is Eeyou-Mushkegowuk from Fort Albany, Ont.

"And then on the other end of that, we have Indigenous folks that are actively running for office."

Louttit says the number of Indigenous people who live in a riding can affect voter turnout in that riding, and therefore the outcome of the election.

Indigenous electors have historically faced barriers to voting, including dissatisfaction with leadership, lack of understanding of the electoral process, registration challenges, and difficulties accessing polling places, along with a general distrust of the system, according to a study by Elections Canada.

Louttit notes that barriers can include poll accessibility, volunteer staffing, and elections coinciding with traditional hunting holidays.

Patrick Forward, a Cree member of Mistissini, Que., says that some community members have mixed feelings about the influence of their votes.

"I think there's a mentality there that it doesn't matter. Even if [they] vote, it doesn't matter because what are [the government] going to do for us?" said Forward. 

Forward, however, believes that the stakes are higher than ever and that it's important for people to vote. Affordable housing and funding toward Indigenous language programs are among the priorities Forward hopes leaders will focus on. 

"Once upon a time we were all about inclusion, but we're not about inclusion anymore. Now we're looking to influence," he said.

Forward supports the Liberal candidate in the Abitibi-Baie-James-Nunavik-Eeyou riding. Mandy Gull-Masty is the first woman to be named grand chief of Eeyou Istchee.

"She's moved from that into federal [politics], which I think is a powerful statement. So we have representation from someone that we trust," said Forward. 

Gull-Masty is running to unseat the incumbent candidate, Sylvie Bérubé of the Bloc Québécois. She's also running against Conservative Steve Corriveau, and Thai Dillon Higashihara of the NDP.  

"If it's important enough, people will find ways to ensure that they make their vote count," Forward said.

"Whether I be in Montreal, in the bush, or wherever I am, you can be sure that I'll make time to cast my vote." 

Louttit acknowledges the challenges faced by Indigenous voters, but argues that choosing leadership is a crucial decision.

"Rather than seeing voting as a betrayal of Indigenous nationhood, we can re-frame our sovereignty as Indigenous people as self-determined engagement," said Louttit. 

"My choice to vote is a form of harm reduction … by strategically voting for the party that would inflict the least amount of harm."

Low voter turnout may affect not only current citizens but also future generations, according to Louttit.

"As Indigenous peoples, we need to recognize that everything that we do today has an impact on the next generations, and that's how we interact and how we advocate for our human rights," Louttit said.

Election day is April 28.