REGINA — Although the senate of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations is asking to postpone the upcoming election, the organization said today that the election will be taking place as planned on Oct. 28.
All five of the FSIN’s executive positions are open, to be decided during the upcoming election. Thirteen candidates were named officially on Sept. 28.
Following the announcement, four would-be candidates have come forward, claiming that they were wrongfully disqualified and their names left off the official ballot for political reasons.
The candidates said they submitted their nomination packages properly before the deadline, but were contacted last-minute by elections officials requesting criminal record checks, with no time to acquire them.
Further claims from the disqualified candidates said that the committee rejected their applications because it would be beneficial to incumbent candidates seeking re-election.
Complaints made to the FSIN Senate prompted a call to suspend the election until February 2022, to investigate the issue.
The FSIN issued a statement on Tuesday stating that the allegations are “unfounded,” and the Credentials Committee was selected and operated in accordance with the FSIN Election Act.
“The actions of these candidates and those members of the Senate is an attempt to subvert the resolutions and legislation of the FSIN Chiefs-in-Assembly,” said a statement from FSIN.
The FSIN has said the election will go forward as planned, taking place later this month.
