In this huge Quebec riding, Indigenous voters have lots of power — and specific concerns

In Edith Cloutier's 35 years at the Val d'Or Native Friendship Centre, she's seen thousands of clients cycle through her doors and handfuls of federal politicians come and go.

But the problems impacting urban Indigenous people — the cost of living, affordability and homelessness — have intensified in areas surrounding Val d'Or, Que., located over 500 kilometres northwest of Montreal.

With mere days until the federal election on April 28, Cloutier, the centre's executive director, is among those looking for a candidate who can help respond to the needs of urban Indigenous people in Quebec's largest riding.

The Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou riding spans thousands of kilometres from areas in northwestern Quebec all the way up to Nunavik, with a large population of potential Indigenous voters.

The economy and Canada's response to U.S. tariffs have dominated the electoral campaign, but Cloutier is looking for a candidate to treat local issues with equal importance.

"Reconciliation has been set aside because of those more global political concerns," she said.

"I'm worried that aspect would be set aside with any government that would be put in place."

She says urban Indigenous issues as a whole have not been addressed.

That's part of what inspired Mandy Gull-Masty to run for office. Feeling frustrated by the lack of representation in the region, she resigned from her role as grand chief of the Cree Nation Government in Quebec to run as the Liberal candidate.

"This is a unique riding," said Gull-Masty, who speaks Cree, English and French.

"The challenge is that this is a huge riding. You have to be present everywhere."

Combating voter apathy in Indigenous communities

Another challenge is trying to increase voter turnout.

In the 2021 federal election, out of over 38,000 registered electors in Indigenous communities in Quebec, less than 9,000 cast a vote, according to Elections Canada.

That 23 per cent voter turnout rate lagged behind the average national rate for electors in Indigenous communities, which sat at 44 per cent.

Encouraging residents to vote is a "huge endeavour," says Gull-Masty.

"I'm not only working to be elected, but I'm also working to try to get the vote out in these areas," she said.

"The reason why not everybody participates in a provincial or federal vote is because primarily, communities vote for their chief. They vote for the grand chief … because they know that these people are working directly for them."

But she's highlighting how federal politics have direct consequences on the region. Gull-Masty says the number of Cree and Inuit voters is so strong that they could very well determine the outcome of the vote in this riding.

The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) has highlighted a total of 36 federal ridings in Canada where First Nations electors could decide the outcomes.

"We are the deciding factor," says Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, national chief of the AFN.

"But the rest of the poles in this country, we are there and we are in high numbers."

While she says voter apathy "is real," it's important for First Nations people to feel included in the process.

"Any smart candidate will reach out to First Nations people and come and talk to us and come in and have some soup and bannock with us," she said.

Representation also matters. This year, there are nearly 30 candidates across Canada who are Indigenous, she says.

"I can't remember another time in an election with that many First Nations candidates," said Woodhouse Nepinak.

Bloc Québécois incumbent wants to continue her work

Incumbent Sylvie Bérubé, with the Bloc Québécois, won the seat in 2019 after it was vacated by Cree MP Romeo Saganash, who served the riding with the NDP for eight years.

Bérubé says she's hoping to convince Indigenous voters to support her by showing that she is listening and respecting them.

Seeking her third re-election, she says she still has work to do and adds it's a shame some people criticize her lack of presence in the communities.

"I have always been on the ground, I have always met with people and even the Indigenous communities," she said.

On her trips north, she says she listens to the need — notably food insecurity and the impacts of a changing environment on the Indigenous way of life.

"I look at what the Liberal government has done … nothing is moving. Even the current Liberal government has never respected Indigenous communities like us," said Bérubé.

"What's important is to continue my files that are currently in progress."

But even at the local level, Cloutier with the Native Friendship Centre says discussion surrounding solutions to key issues such as the shortage of housing or ensuing homelessness is lacking.

"Homelessness was not even mentioned once at the local debate for the three candidates this week in Val d'Or," said Cloutier.

"All parties, we didn't hear about those aspects as much as we should have."

While she feels well-served, she says it's because Indigenous peoples are outspoken — something that will continue.

"We really push forward and we bring forward our needs," said Cloutier. "[We] do a lot of work to say, 'hey, we're here and we have things to say.'"