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Candidates for Grand Chief and Deputy Grand Chief have released their campaign platforms for Cree Nation Government elections on July 17. Voters need to be Cree beneficiaries of the JBNQA and at least 18 years old on the date of election.
There are three candidates for Grand Chief: incumbent Norman A. Wapachee, John Kitchen and Paul John Murdoch. The five candidates for Deputy Grand Chief are Grace Darlene Cheechoo, Robin Gull Saganash, Sammy Salt-Blacksmith, Linden Spencer and John Henry Wapachee.
According to chief returning officer Robin Pachanos, poll stations will be open from 9am to 7pm on voting day. Advance polls will open online July 13 at 9am and close on July 16 at 2pm. Voters accessing the online platform will be required to submit their JBNQA beneficiary number, date of birth and community of affiliation.
The Nation spoke with the three candidates about their experience, motivations for running and campaign priorities.
Norman A. Wapachee
Admitting that he was relatively unknown when running for Deputy Grand Chief four years ago, Norman A. Wapachee’s message “let us give our land a voice” resonated with Cree people. He worked well in a supporting role with Grand Chief Mandy Gull-Masty until she resigned in March to successfully run as a Liberal in the federal election.
With the opportunity to implement his own vision, Wapachee anticipates enacting the Declaration on the Rights and Responsibilities in Eeyou Istchee, which Council adopted in May. Giving land a voice, this affirmation asserts a responsibility to the land’s sustainability by incorporating customary practices in the modern context.
“The JBNQA will never address over-harvesting of moose on the Cree side,” Wapachee offered as an example. “If you incorporate our traditional laws, you only take what you need. There needs to be harmony – our ancestors did a damn good job taking care of the land.”
Wapachee shares a common sentiment that the CNG is too close with Quebec and disconnected from local realities. He said he advised Gull-Masty to pull away from the province to work more closely with band Chiefs. He intends to restructure its governance to more effectively represent the communities.
Regarding potential projects like wind energy, he would closely collaborate with Chiefs to determine a common objective. Wapachee is proud of his work to establish a National Marine Conservation Area in James Bay, and believes a new regional research institute would encourage greater Cree involvement in protected areas.
Wapachee wants to create more opportunities for educated youth to come home. Reflecting on disturbing social issues witnessed in communities, he feels the responsibility to help develop holistic solutions that address “deeply rooted” impacts of colonialism.
“We must find ways of restoring that balance,” said Wapachee. “I talk to my grandson in Cree and he doesn’t understand me. Planting a seed for them to grow means a lot to me.”
John Kitchen
A three-time former Chief of Waswanipi after a decade as band councillor, John Kitchen also has over 20 years of experience leading various construction and forestry companies. As president of Kuikuhaacheu Inc., his vision is to train and employ youth in resource-development positions.
Friends of Kitchen’s late son Joey Blacksmith said Joey would tell them, “One day my dad is going to be Grand Chief.” Moved by stories of tallymen witnessing the destruction of their traplines, Kitchen says his campaign will support tallymen in their demands for better rights and communication.
“I see industry and mining coming into our territory and doing what they want without really consulting the tallyman on their traplines,” said Kitchen. “They run businesses like they own the land. We have to get our land back and have a say.”
Kitchen believes land users should decide whether projects like railroads or pipelines pass through their territory while also benefiting from employment opportunities. Suggesting forestry companies mainly hire their friends, he asserted that local entrepreneurs should have priority.
As a residential school survivor, Kitchen sees today’s youth struggling with abusive patterns he’s experienced. He proposes local treatment centres and land-based programs, so youth don’t have to leave the region. With decreasing numbers in the income security program that supports traditional lifestyles, Kitchen proposes expanding Cree Trappers’ Association programs.
“We need to find alternatives for communities to build quality houses, again supporting local entrepreneurs,” Kitchen asserted. “Let’s create rent-to-own houses. We should promote women in the workforce, youth too. We can work together and stand together.”
Paul John Murdoch
Paul John Murdoch’s campaign slogan “Eeyou Istchee strong and united” was inspired by his recent cross-country motorcycle trip visiting Indigenous communities. He had hoped to meet Chief Clarence Louie of the Osoyoos First Nation, a big admirer of Murdoch’s late uncle Billy Diamond.
“When I visited Osoyoos, seeing all these young people having amazing jobs, I said that’s the direction we need to go in,” said Murdoch. “They have private companies investing in their community. That’s outside money building infrastructure – associated jobs are on the reserve.”
Murdoch suggested working with banks could trigger a housing boom. By bringing Cree economies together and defending local entrepreneurs, he believes employment and housing access will improve community safety. Enabling communities to address municipal violations would free the court system to deal with serious crimes.
As the first Cree member of the Quebec Bar, Murdoch said he’d give up his legal practice if elected to avoid potential conflicts of interest. Emphasizing his commitment to accountability and transparency, he proposed clear processes for Grand Chiefs to divest themselves of economic interests and be subjected to a non-confidence vote.
Proposing an access-to-information act for journalists and the public, Murdoch said any correspondence with the Grand Chief should be shared with other leadership. He’s inspired by a handwritten document of the Grand Council’s founding Chiefs stating their mandate must come from the people and the communities, not the other way around.
“That is a founding constitutional principle,” Murdoch explained. “Over the years, it’s been a little too top-down sometimes. There’s no way to build trust if we have secrets from one another. We have the tools – we just need to work together to use them in the right way.”
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