KENORA — If you live in the Kenora-Kiiwetinoong riding it’s likely that you’ve heard of Tania Cameron through her community work, political campaign management and past runs as a New Democratic Party candidate in the 2008 and 2011 federal elections.
“I am grateful that I have a little bit more of name recognition and I get compliments or kudos for the work that I’ve already done in the communities,” said the Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation member.
One piece of her campaign work has been getting First Nations communities out voting — to "rock the vote," as she puts it. She said it's largely a matter of making sure Indigenous people have a place to vote and know how to vote. She joked that obviously she would love all votes to go her way on April 28, but said that having access to polling stations is a right and worth fighting for.
“I really do love politics, I really like engaging with the voters and even just having those conversations of why people should vote, the power that they have in their vote,” she said.
Cameron is executive director of Wiigwas Elder and Senior Care in Kenora, volunteers with Indigenous youth basketball and advocates for youth leadership in Indigenous communities. She said her experience helps her understand some of the greater issues on the campaign trail.
Those issues include the need for senior care in Ignace, where around 60 per cent of the population is considered senior citizens, she said.
“The needs in that community are around the health and social interaction for all their residents, access to health care is huge. There’s a lot of things that I’m tying into what I do on the daily and what I’m hearing in the communities.”
Things she’s hearing from people as she chats with them include the need for new infrastructure to replace aging facilities, roads and other needs. Housing is also a very big concern for people on and off First Nations, especially affordable housing and space for seniors aging at home.
“There’s overcrowding, there’s families being priced out of rental units and landlords having a difficult time finding safe renters. I think we need more units, investments in housing for sure.”
Cameron said she is a good person to help broker the conversation on natural resources, ensuring the rights of Indigenous communities are preserved while companies looking to mine are heard at the table.
“My goal is to make sure that their voices are elevated to the table and have a say, have that ability to either consent or not,” she said. “I certainly can see both sides but as an Indigenous woman I want to make sure our voices are heard, that First Nations leaders are heard at the table.”
