STEPHENVILLE — Odelle Pike says the most important issues at present in the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band council election are transparency, accountability and communications with membership.
She is intending to run for the chief of the Qalipu band in the Oct. 23 election.
Pike said that it is her intention that within 60 days of being elected she will initiate a member information line as part of member relationship management to field questions and answers through all communications methods.
Pike said band staff would be accountable to the board members and community members.
To address health issues, Pike said she would lobby for a culturally based, provincial treatment centre for drug and alcohol abuse, ensuring all members will have somewhere to go to take their mental, physical, emotional and spiritual needs into account.
Pike said currently the band has no legal option to provide members with taxation relief outside travelling to Conne River.
She would work to lobby all levels of government on the issue of taxation for all Mi’kmaq people in Newfoundland and Labrador.
If elected, Pike said she would work to ensure band programs and services are made accessible to all members and to expand the band’s educational program to reach more members.
