Vote-buying allegations on Sask. First Nation show 'people are speaking up': professor

Despiteallegations of vote-buying and influence peddling on theMakwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation in Saskatchewan, a professor who specializes in northern governance is arguing that the fact such allegations are coming to light is a healthy sign of democracy on the reserve.

"I'm really happy to see this happeningbecause, on the other hand, it also shows that community members are speaking up," said University of Saskatchewan professor Ken Coates. "The essence of a democracy is not having police going around andhaving police enforce awholebunch of rules all the time.

"It's actually people policing themselves."

TheMakwaSahgaiehcanFirst Nation sitsabout 300 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon. On Wednesday, CBC News reported that 12people on the reserve saidthey've accepted cash in return for votesindifferent band council elections.

Coates joinedSaskatoon Morninghost Leisha Grebinskion Friday to add some context to the situation and allegations.

He emphasized how people speaking out is "a sign of people that are willing tostandup and take this stand and insist on proper practices."

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Coares said that will affect future elections and eventsbecause now "everyone is going tobe watching them now to prove, in fact, that they have clean and ethicalelectionsin that community."

Vote-buying generally uncommon

Far from popular conceptions, Coates said vote-buying and influence peddling on First Nations is "nowhere near as common as people like tothink." He saidcomesup once every three or four years across the country.

Coates said news outlets will regularly pick up such storiesbecause theymake bigheadlines.

In the case ofMakwaSahgaiehcan, one man brought forward his allegation of a $1,500 offerto the RCMP. The police force said there's not enough evidenceto pursue aninvestigation.

Those who have spoken outare using thebest means they have, according to Coates.

"The means they have is the one they used, which is to talk up about it."

Speaking out has consequences for alleged bribers: Coates

It's hard to find the actualevidence of vote-buying, Coates said,oreven offeringto buy votesbecause such cases usually boildown to he-said, she-said contests.

"The folks doing thisaren'tstupid," he said. "Thoughthey might be acting inappropriately."

Based on his knowledge and research, Cotes said that speaking out will force strong supervision in future elections, and those making vote-buyingoffers are usually booted out via low vote counts.

Despite the initial negative repercussions on a band facing such allegations, the long-term impacts for business can actually be positive, he argued.

"Over a short period of time, those agencies look and say, 'Boy those communities are really engaging in some very robust and important political conversations.' And they'll see a new set of leaders come forward."

Coates said he also sees theMakwaSahgaiehcancase as an example of a generational shift of aboriginalleaders across the country. That group of leaders, he said, is one of autonomous, self-governance that doesn't need to rely on Ottawa for regulation and direction.