Indigenous issues are not just a campaign talking point – The Gateway Online

March 3, 2025

Candidates at the ISU forum misrepresented the work already being done on Indigenous issues and even used offensive language.

Indigenous advocacy is not a buzzword, nor should it be a superficial addition to a candidate’s campaign platform. Yet, throughout this University of Alberta Students’ Union (SU) election cycle, it seems that some candidates are only engaging with Indigenous issues on a superficial level. One candidate spoke on Indigenous issues without a clear understanding of the advocacy work already being done. Another misrepresented established initiatives. A third used outdated and offensive language when referring to Indigenous students.

During the vice-president (external) (VPX) candidates’ opening statements at the Indigenous Students’ Union (ISU) forum on February 28, candidate Nate Goetz made misleading statements about the National Indigenous Advocacy Committee (NIAC). NIAC is a committee within the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA), an advocacy group which the SU is part of. Goetz claimed that “CASA’s [NIAC] took months to form, and when it was up and running, it was too late for any meaningful action to actually be done.”

Read More: https://thegatewayonline.ca/2025/03/indigenous-issues-are-not-just-a-campaign-talking-point/