First Nations seek answers after ballot shortages mar Alberta referendum

ALBERTA — Several First Nations in Alberta ran short of ballots during Monday's provincial referendum, prompting criticism of how the vote was administered.

"It is unacceptable that First Nations communities continue to encounter barriers to participating fully in Alberta’s democratic processes," Siksika Chief Samuel Crowfoot said in a statement.

In some communities, the shortage led to waits of up to two and a half hours, according to Crowfoot, who said he will request a formal explanation from Elections Alberta.

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Elections Alberta spokeswoman Michelle Gurney said the agency delivered extra ballots to five First Nations, with three of them receiving multiple shipments.

Samson Cree Nation, Louis Bull Tribe and Ermineskin Cree Nation received three separate ballot deliveries, she said, while Whitefish First Nation and a location serving Siksika Nation and Blood Tribe needed at least one extra delivery.

Kevin Duncan, a spokesperson for Elections Alberta, said the agency determined ballot numbers using historic voting data and added a 150-per-cent buffer.

"We see this as a really good news story … even with that significant buffer, we went to several First Nations multiple times to bring more ballots in," Duncan told CBC Radio.

He acknowledged Siksika Nation was the only community to officially run out of ballots, but said others experienced shortages.

Katherine Swampy, an Alberta lead with Rock the Indigenous Vote, said many voters in Samson Cree Nation were turned away when their polling station ran out of ballots around 8 p.m.

"People that had showed up, filled out all the necessary paperwork, even waited in line, were asked to leave, because there were not enough ballots for them to vote," she said.

An Elections Alberta spokesperson acknowledged in an email there were not enough ballots for each elector who showed up to vote in Samson Cree Nation.

Desmond Bull, chief of the Louis Bull Tribe, said his community of about 2,500 people also ran out of ballots around noon and a second time later in the afternoon.

"It's always a good indication when that happens," he said, "but it also shows the lack of responsibility in regards to how many ballots we could actually use."

Elliot Fox, a Blood Tribe councillor, said a polling station on that southern Alberta First Nation also ran out of ballots Monday evening, resulting in it staying open until at least 10 p.m.

Treaty 8 First Nations Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi said Elections Alberta was not prepared, citing polling stations that opened late and ran out of ballots.

"If you listen to Elections Alberta, they would say that they did a fine job of making sure that people could vote, but they haven’t," Mercredi told The Canadian Press.

He said one community had to send its own employees to work at the polling station, while Fort Chipewyan had to have ballots delivered by helicopter because the agency didn't realize the community was so remote.

Tania Cameron, who helped boost First Nations turnout, said the shortage of ballots is a slap in the face to community members who wanted their voices heard.

Duncan said 106 of the province's 1,400 polling stations experienced delays, most within a 10- to 15-minute range, with the final location closing at 10:41 p.m. MT.

He said such hiccups are "typical" of any election event, citing issues such as internet connectivity, staffing shortages and delayed furniture.

Results from voting locations in First Nations across the province were overwhelmingly opposed to separation from Canada.

At the Tallcree First Nation band office, 102 voters cast ballots with not a single one favouring independence, and at one location on the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, just seven of 363 voters selected separation.

"First Nations and Albertan voters turned out in huge numbers and stood up for our shared past, present and future in Canada and rejected a divisive proposal," Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said in a press release.

First Nations in Alberta have challenged the legality of provincial separation in court, arguing it would violate treaties with the Crown.

In a December decision, Court of King’s Bench Justice Colin Feasby ruled that "First Nations, as founding partners in the creation of Alberta, cannot be ignored or bypassed as Alberta contemplates its future whether that is as part of Canada or not."

Last week, a number of First Nations raised concerns that their members were not given the opportunity to vote in advanced polls because of staff shortages.

Elections Alberta said it has done more consultation with First Nation communities for the referendum than in past election events and that the vote was managed by First Nation members with support from the agency.

"Continued consultation requires listening and respecting local preferences as well as working to address barriers to voting they have experienced in the past," a spokesperson said.

With files from The Canadian Press, The Globe and Mail and CBC News