Category Archives: Elections

Self-Mobilization key to combating apathy among Aboriginal Youth

Posted on by
Reply

I sat at the Liberal Party of Canada’s Biennial Convention in Ottawa this past weekend enjoying my breakfast with the more than 3,200 other Liberal delegates that had shown up (ps: that’s more than the Conservative and New Democratic conventions combined). I sat- kind of listening and kind of not- to the morning’s keynote speaker. As I watched this man initially fumble around the stage during his address, I was suddenly hit with a profound sense of urgency! “Listen to this him” I thought. “He’s talking about exactly you’re trying to do!”

That keynote speaker was Mr. Don Tapscott (Facebook, Twitter), a key architect in the 2008 Presidential Campaign for President Obama. Some of you are probably scratching your head and thinking “how in hell am I supposed to know who Don Tapscott is!?!”

Well, you’re right. You might not know who he is. If you’re like me and would have much rather indulged in your delicious bacon and egg platter that morning instead of listening to his address- you wouldn’t know.

Thankfully, the jacket I was wearing was getting to be a bit tight around the tummy- from endless Christmas meals- so I turned in my knife and fork, admitted defeat to my Biennial breakfast and shifted my attention to this seemingly un-interesting man. Praise jeebuss I did!

As he started to talk and work the audience, I was immediately drawn to his charisma, his ability to engage his audience, and the knowledge he was sharing about exactly what I was trying to do.

You see, I founded this organization as a means to engage more Aboriginal Youth in the Canadian political process. Now you may not know this, (and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this one out) but combating youth apathy in the Canadian political process has been a goal of every major political organization since, well… the beginning of political organizations- and ALYS is no different!

As he went on, he began to talk about “macro-wikinomics” (what?!?) and his wonky idea of “self-mobilization” among youth. He discussed the concept of being a “digital foreigner” or a “digital native” and I found myself totally and completely immersed in the ideas he was radiating my brain with.

Without giving much more away, I just want to say that this was, by far, the most interesting and relevant discussion that was had at the Biennial Convention. Yes, even more interesting than the discussion about legalizing/decriminalizing marijuana! It spoke to the revitalization of the party through youth engagement and self-actualization. His presentation spoke to the very heart of what now engulfs the Liberal Party of Canada: “fear of losing legitimacy and relevance”. His message was profound, his success obvious, and his ideas and plans to engage youth have enabled such organizations as the Democratic Party in the United States to bring about a revolution in the political landscape.

I encourage you to watch his full presentation and judge for yourself what needs to be done and why it’s important!

Sask NDP speaks with fork-tongue

Posted on by
Reply

Saskatchewan New Democrats have reneged on their promise to share resource revenues with First Nations in Saskatchewan.

In a statement yesterday, Trent Wotherspoon, the NDPs finance critic said Saskatchewan’s New Democrats no longer think it’s a good idea to share resource revenues with First Nations. “The party no longer supports sharing revenues from resources such as potash and oil- Saskatchewan voters did not like the idea.”

In the lead-up to the Saskatchewan General Election, former provincial NDP leader Dwain Lingenfelter, at a campaign stop at the Red Pheasant First Nation, promised First Nations that the province, under a New Democratic government, would share a portion of resource revenues- that election promise is now null and void said Wortherspoon.

Aboriginal Liberal Youth of Saskatchewan (ALYS) founder Kevin Seesequasis says that it is now apparent that many First Nations people across Saskatchewan placed a lot of misguided trust in the provincial NDP.

“[Resource] revenue sharing was a key plank in the NDPs Aboriginal strategy; and now we’re finding out that many within the NDP ranks didn’t even support the idea! We need real solutions to the real problems First Nations people are struggling with- housing, health, and education- not empty promises or gimmicks.”

Chad Cowie, the incoming Co-Chair for the Aboriginal Peoples’ Commission of the Liberal Party of Canada says the 180º switch by the NDP to include First Nations in a resource revenue sharing agreement is a simple sign of vote-grabbing.

“It’s easy to connect the Saskatchewan NDPs behaviour with that of their federal counterparts who, in 2005 were in support of the Kelowna Accord but then did a 180º switch and killed it by forcing an election. This most recent flip on revenue sharing is proof that the NDP, provincially or federally, is willing to place their own political greed ahead of the rights of Aboriginal peoples.”

The Sasktatchewan Liberal Party, under the leadership of Ryan Bater pledged early on to lobby for the creation of a First Nations secretariat that would report to the Premier’s Office and engage First Nations in a nation-to-nation manner.

“That’s the kind of results we need to see; working together in the spirit of cooperation in line with the intent of our Treaties; not more lies and flip flops” says Seesequasis.

- 30 -

ALYS founder seeks executive post with the APC

Posted on by
Reply

November 1, 2011

Dear Friends and Family,

In 1990, the Liberal Party of Canada became the first and only political party to formally recognize the unique place that Aboriginal peoples occupy in our great nation. Through the creation of the Aboriginal Peoples’ Commission, the APC provided Aboriginals the unique opportunity to represent themselves within a federal party.

During the weekend of January 13th to the 15th, Liberals everywhere, including the APC- will come together in Ottawa for the Biennial Convention to celebrate Canadian liberalism and to formally begin the process of rebuilding our party. During this important moment, several key things will occur:

  1. We will amend and vote on key Liberal policy and initiatives; and
  2. We will nominate and vote officers to the Liberal Party of Canada Executive.

Liberals have a proud history of working with Aboriginal people’s in Canada– from the Indian Residential Schools Apology and the Kelowna Accord to supporting the United Nations Declaration on Indigenous Rights. I wish to build upon the proud legacy of cooperation and understanding that the Liberal Party of Canada and Aboriginal people have built and fostered together and continue working toward greater inclusion for Aboriginal people in the Canadian political process.

It is for those reasons and many others that I have decided to submit my name for election as a candidate for Vice-President of Communications on the national executive of the Aboriginal Peoples’ Commission. The deadline for nominations is November 7th.

You can support me today by:

  1. Contributing $20 (or any other amount) to fund my campaign; and/or
  2. Purchasing a $10 Liberal Party of Canada membership and adding your name to support my nomination.

I cannot continue without your support and encouragement and I hope you will consider my candidacy.

Yours Sincerely,

Kevin Seesequasis

For more information about Kevin’s candidacy or to follow, check him out on Facebook:

Saskatchewan Liberals commit to First Nations Secretariat

Gallery

Posted on by

In a recent interview hosted through News Talk Radio (Twitter @newstalkradio), Saskatchewan Liberal Party Leader Ryan Bater (Twitter @ryanbater) committed to the creation of a First Nations Secretariat. Responding to a question regarding Aboriginal engagement, the Liberal leader was quick … Continue reading →