Mary Duckworth is returning to the position of Chief of the Caldwell First Nation with the backing of a majority of band members who voted in a by-election Saturday.
“It was overwhelming excitement in the hall when I was elected chief,” Duckworth said, early in the evening after the votes were tallied at the Caldwell band office in Leamington.
Duckworth won with 80 votes, followed by band councillor Robyn van Oirschot with 50 votes and former chief Louise Hillier with 38 votes.
A total of 14 ballots were spoiled or rejected.
Duckworth, who was ousted as chief by the current band council last November, said, “I am happy that the people have the faith in me to do the work that needs to be done.”
She added, “I look forward to being able to work for citizens of Caldwell First Nation to advance our people and the greater good.”
The chief takes a number of messages from the result of this vote.
“It tells me that the people have spoken twice in a one year period,” she said. “It tells me that the people were not happy that the council removed me.
“And it tells me that I co-operated to go through another election and I am the chief and we’ll see what happens from there,” she added.
There is a large rift that needs to be healed in order for the current council, which also includes councillors James Peters, Stan Scott and Steve Simpson, to be able to work together.
About six months after being elected in January 2018, Duckworth found herself at odds with council. Last June, the band administration stated she was on a leave of absence. This was followed by accusations by council she had breached her fiduciary duty and had missed too many meetings.
And it doesn’t appear this by-election victory has changed the stance of the current council members.
When asked when the next band council meeting could be held, Duckworth said she isn’t sure, because after election result she went to speak with council members in a room at the band office and “the door got slammed in my face.”
But, the rift appears to be a symptom of much bigger problem Duckworth plans to tackle.
“There has been a long, systemic issue at Caldwell First Nation that I hope to be able address,” the chief said.
The issue, she said stems from the fact members of the Caldwell community are spread out and with no land base, people have to travel far distances to come together.
“I really feel it’s colonization, it’s not having that community time as a community . . . so you don’t build the relationships you would if you lived in a community (together).”
She said this has resulted in relationships being fragile.
Nearly a decade ago, the Caldwell First Nation received a $105-million land claim settlement from the federal government with the primary purpose to purchase land to create a reserve.
This remains the goal, but Duckworth said, “We have to come together as a nation first, before we can even live beside each other.
“I know it can happen and I’m very excited about it,” she added.
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