The incredible Indigenous candidates running for the BC NDP
Read a letter from Melanie Mark introducing four star candidates who are ready to work for you.
N̓it! ʔéx kʷ n̓! Hadih! 'Nitt! weyt-kp!
I am proud to be the first female First Nations MLA elected to the BC Legislature. In 2017, I became the only First Nations woman to serve as a cabinet minister.
I’ve worked alongside my BC NDP colleagues to create a provincial tuition waiver program to support former youth in care, to implement Canada’s first Indigenous law program at the University of Victoria, to pass the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, and to respond to the climate crisis with CleanBC.
We’re making progress for Indigenous peoples but there’s so much more to do – and that’s why I’m so excited to introduce four incredible Indigenous candidates who are running alongside me this election:
BC NDP Candidate for Fraser-Nicola
Many of you know Aaron was the former Chief for the Lower Nicola Indian Band and also that he serves as Chair of the Indigenous Business and Investment Council. As a lawyer Aaron’s work includes representing our Elders who are survivors of residential schools and as a member on the Board of Commissioners for BC Housing he advocates for our urban and home communities.
BC NDP Candidate for Nechako Lakes
I got to know Anne Marie as a senior staff member to the Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation during the legislative drafting for the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. She has proudly served as a School Trustee in Nechako Lakes and as a Councillor for her home community of Nak’azdli. She’s great!
BC NDP Candidate for Skeena
Nicole Halbauer belongs to the Ganhada (Raven) clan of Kitsumkalum. Halbauer is the current Chair of the Board of Directors at Coast Mountain College, and she knows firsthand the benefits of connecting students in remote and Indigenous communities to online learning opportunities. She also has over twenty years of experience in First Nations health, advocacy, negotiation, program planning and system change.
BC NDP Candidate for Kamloops South Thompson
Anna Thomas is of Nlaka’pamux and Cree heritage, born in Sto:lo Territory and raised in Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc. Anna worked at the BC Native Women’s Association as the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy Coordinator for 3 years before she was elected President of the BC Native Women’s Association in 2019. The same year, she was also elected 2nd Vice President of the Native Women's Association of Canada.
I hope you’ll join me in welcoming these four incredible candidates to the team.
With your support, we can send all five of us to Victoria and keep building a recovery that works for all of our communities.
Let’s keep paddling together!
T’ooyaksim’ N’iisim’
Melanie Mark
Hli Haykwhl Ẃii Xsgaak
BC NDP Candidate for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant