Fort Smith (Apr 24/06) - When she was growing up, Joline Beaver was surrounded by the politics of the Salt River First Nation.

That's because her father, Henry Beaver, is a former chief of the Fort Smith-based band. It's not surprising then that Joline Beaver would one day become a band councillor.

In fact, she succeeded in her first run at elected office at the young age of 20 when she was elected to council in a March 20 by-election.

"I wanted to see if it would make any difference if I was there," she says. "I wanted to learn about my band and what was being done for the people."

Beaver thinks the band council needs more accountability and openness in running the affairs of the First Nation.

"As it is, the members don't know what's going on in the band because it's so hush-hush," she says.

Beaver is not sure how much of a difference she can make, noting she is only one councillor out of six, plus a chief.

"I hope I can make other councillors see people need to see what's going on," she says.

In particular, she says she wants to protect the rights of her one-year-old son Motega Paulette and her grandchildren yet to come.

Beaver says she decided to run for office at the encouragement of other people, particularly her father whom she calls her biggest supporter.

It was her father who taught her about band politics, and about issues such as the treaty land entitlement agreement.

"I kind of grew up with an idea of what would be an ideal world for the band," she explains.

Beaver admits she was somewhat shocked when she won the by-election, especially since she was running against people who knew a lot about the issues. Now that she is elected, she has several goals.

"I want to make more opportunities for our young people," she says, explaining she hopes to show them that there is more to life than drinking and smoking.

Since she became a parent, Beaver says she does not smoke or drink. "I live for my son."

As for whether she may one day want to be chief of the Salt River First Nation, Beaver says she first wants to see what it's like to be a councillor. A run for chief might be something she'd consider in the future. "But it's not something I'm leaning to right now."

Along with her new duties as band councillor, Beaver is employed at Arctic Wolf Janitorial and recently began another job as a day camp co-ordinator at the Fort Smith Rec Centre.

She is also engaged to Josef Paulette, whose uncle is Chief Jerry Paulette of Smith's Landing First Nation.