In the face of anti-Indigenous sentiment, candidates say representation in Alberta’s legislature is important – Windspeaker.com

May 24th, 2023

“We need more leaders stepping up and running that are Indigenous… Hopefully we’re talking about an Indigenous caucus. Hopefully we’re talking about one day an Indigenous Prime Minister.” —Scott Sinclair is the UCP candidate in Lesser Slave Lake

There’s a Cree word that Katherine Swampy and her campaign team have printed on their T-shirts that keeps them moving on, even after they encounter bad experiences when knocking on doors.

“Kiyam … It essentially means ‘to let it go.’ It’s a common term in the Cree language used often when you’re at peace with yourself and with your surroundings and nothing anyone does or says can or will affect you. No negativity, no malice will touch you,” said Swampy, the New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate for Maskwacis-Wetaskiwin.

Swampy, who is from Samson Cree Nation, is one of five Indigenous candidates for the NDP in the upcoming Alberta election.

In keeping with the spirit of kiyam, Swampy would only add that campaigning in the riding has been “interesting,” when asked by Windspeaker.com to expand on the anti-Indigenous sentiments she has experienced.

Read More: https://www.windspeaker.com/news/windspeaker-news/face-anti-indigenous-sentiment-candidates-say-representation-albertas