The election for Siksika Nation Chief and Council is fast approaching and there is an extremely large number of potential candidates.  There are 56 members of the community just east of Strathmore, who are looking to be elected.  On one hand, you can view it as an extreme need to get involved and help make the community better, or the other hand that people may be frustrated with the way things are going that they see a need to get personally involved.  It may be a mixture of both, but with four or five current councilors stepping down there are sure to be some significant changes.

Reuben Breaker is a current councilor that oversees the Drug Task Force along with his other duties, and has been extremely busy with current plans. The community elected him to work for the full term so that is what he is going to do, "Personal attacks, That's not our ways and I know it happens at all levels of government, we should be working together and that is all I'm doing. We are getting attacked personally and collectively as an institution as chief and council. Our people are angry for various reasons and rightfully so, our people have been treated badly for years and the mindset is to blame chief and council. You know we have a short term of three years to make a difference. Sometimes it is hard to make a difference in three years, but all we do is try our best." 

Being a councilor is not as easy as the promises some candidates might make to get elected, and Councilor Breaker addresses the issues with that style of campaigning, "I can't promise the people that I'm going to do this, I'm going to do that because people have to understand that when you get into that political table there are 12 other people you have to sell your idea to. For me it is just a matter of staying grounded, having that spiritual connection to our creator and taking things one day at a time and doing the right thing."  

There have been some directions that have long-reaching timelines and certain commitments need to be upheld and that is where Executive Manager for Siksika Nation, Stewart Breaker comes in.  Breaker outlines the importance of his role, "My role is to remind the next chief and council that these (projects) are ongoing. Some are initiatives for them to consider as part of their planning. We will have orientation for the next new chief and council of the financial and the programs and anything with external governments." The newly elected members will have their orientation in mid-December so they can have their plans completed by the middle of January 2020.  The election will be held on November 27.