Winnipeg’s mayoral candidates were invited to share how their platforms address issues faced by the city’s First Nations population. There wasn’t much breathing room Tuesday night inside the Manitoba Museum’s auditorium as all 12 Winnipeg mayoral candidates took to the stage. “It’s a little bit of a tight squeeze up there but you all look very fabulous and ready to answer some hard questions,” joked Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) Grand Chief Kyra Wilson. The AMC, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO), Southern Chiefs Organization, and Treaty One Nations joined forces to host the forum discussing urban First Nation priorities. MKO’s Grand Chief Garison Settee said roughly 130,000 people from northern First Nations call Winnipeg home. The Grand Chief told CTV News the forum gives First Nations people a platform to share their concerns with candidates, and candidates an opportunity to explain how they’d solve these issues as mayor. “We want to create an opportunity to hear the options,” Settee said. Economic opportunities, relationships with city hall, and the city’s response to homelessness were some of the concerns raised Tuesday. “I would like to see the next mayor of Winnipeg address these in a very meaningful way, beyond rhetoric. Not just talking abut the issue identifying that there’s an issue but actually having a solution,” Settee said. Settee said there is a lot of discrimination that exists against Indigenous people. He wants to focus on moving forward, together.
