RCMP and security personnel will be in place to assure a safe, respectful voting environment for all membership to cast their ballots on Thursday.
“NStQ treaty team staff and our four community councils have worked diligently for 20+ years on Treaty negotiations. This has benefitted all of our NStQ communities in many ways, mainly in the natural resource departments”, states Chief Ann Louie of the Williams Lake Indian Band.
“During our 6th Annual Citizens’ Assembly held over the course of two days last week, we heard about the impacts our citizens continue to face under the colonial Indian Act, and I heard nothing positive about our people continuing to be governed under this archaic Act. It is clear that the status-quo is no longer acceptable. Therefore, WLIB council is requesting the support of our membership to get out and vote on April 28th to help us move into Stage 5, joining our other three communities who have voted to continue in our treaty negotiations.”
On February 11th of this year, three of the four NStQ member communities held successful AiP (Agreement in Principle) Referendums in their communities, while the referendum at the Williams Lake Indian Band polling station was suspended midday after being disrupted by a group of protestors opposed to the treaty.
Eligible Williams Lake Indian band members 18 years of age and older will vote on the following ballot question:“Do you support the recommendation of the NStQ Leadership Council to proceed to Final Agreement Negotiations?” at Elizabeth Grouse Gymnasium at Sugar Cane will once again be the polling station, open from 9:00am until 8:00pm on April 28th.