Residents of Eden Valley Reserve’s Bearspaw First Nation will vote along with the rest of the Stoney Nation Dec. 6.
An election will be held for the reserve’s two councillors and chief of the Bearspaw Band.
In Eden Valley, nine people are running for the two councillor positions.
Both of the current councillors, Larry and Rex Daniels, are in the running. Past councillors Keith Lefthand and Gordon Wildman are also looking to return to the position. Marshall Clifford Jimmy John, Byron R. Dixon, Cameron (Bob) Lefthand, Garnett Labelle and Wanda Rider are also running.
It is the first time an election has been held under three-year terms. Bearspaw First Nation CEO Robert Shotclose said its been able to accomplish more by having the councillors and chief in power for an extra year.
“They spend half of the first year learning and then by the second year it’s already back to election mode,” Shotclose said of the two-year terms. “We have accomplished a lot more this time in the Bearspaw.”
There is a long history behind the move from two-year to three-year terms. In 2011, then Bearspaw Chief David Bearspaw Jr., attempted a band council resolution to extend the term to four years, without a referendum.
In August 2011, a federal judge removed Bearspaw and council and an election was held. Darcy Dixon returned to the position of chief and two years later a referendum was called on the issue and a three-year term was voted in.
The last election was called in August 2013. However, the Stoney Nation, which comprises of Bearspaw First Nation, Chiniki First Nation and Wesley First Nation, traditionally vote in December. This year chief and council passed a band council resolution to return the Bearspaw election to Dec. 6, when the rest of the Stoney Nation also votes.
Bearspaw Jr. will run against Dixon for the position of chief of the Bearspaw First Nation. Georgina Rollins and Johnny Ear are also running for chief. All four live in Morley.
There are around 1,000 registered voters, Shotclose said, and around 360 are in Eden Valley. The average voter turnout is 90 per cent, he said.
Voting happens at the Eden Valley’s Chief Jacob Bearspaw School gym between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesday.
