TULITA/FORT NORMAN - Some aboriginal hunters in the NWT won't be casting ballots in the May 2 federal election because they will be out in the bush on traditional spring hunts.

However, Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya is suggesting a solution for Elections Canada - a helicopter-borne polling station to go to the hunters.

"Every vote counts and everybody has the right to participate in a democratic process such as voting for our representative to speak for us in Ottawa in the federal government," he said. "It's still not too late for Elections Canada to go around and have the people vote. It's nothing for them to fly to, for example, a camp out in Tulita called Willow Lake for the people to vote."

Yakeleya said Elections Canada didn't properly take into account people going on the annual spring hunts.

"This is very culturally insensitive to the aboriginal people and their cultures and traditions," he said.

Yakeleya said, while chartering a helicopter would be expensive, Elections Canada could chalk it up as a lesson learned.

The MLA estimated 400 people, including about 150-200 eligible voters, are heading to the spring hunt from the Sahtu communities of Tulita, Deline, Fort Good Hope, Colville Lake and Norman Wells.

Of those hunters, he said a high percentage won't be able to vote because of the timing of advance polls and the election.

In addition, he said spring hunts occur in other regions of the NWT.

Yakeleya believes enough hunters will not vote as to impact the election outcome.

"So Elections Canada is somewhat in the driver's seat here in terms of determining who may be our next MP in Ottawa," he said.

Yakeleya explained the spring hunt cannot be delayed because hunters travel by snowmobile and the snow is disappearing.

The MLA himself will head out on the spring hunt in late April, but will vote before then.

Eddy McPherson Jr. of Tulita will miss the election as he will be about 50 km outside the community on the spring hunt.

McPherson, the president of the Fort Norman Metis Land and Financial Corporation, agrees with Yakeleya that Elections Canada should seek out the hunters' votes.

"It's a big thing missing the election, but, if they had a system where they could say 'there were 20 voters or more, they should go out to these bush camps'," he said.

McPherson, who was to head out on the land late last week and not return until May 15, said most hunters stay about a month, while others spend a couple of weeks in the bush.

While declining comment on specific situations, Elections Canada spokesperson Diane Benson explained there are a number of ways to vote in the electoral process.

That includes dropping into the electoral office in Yellowknife to fill out a ballot, voting by mail by requesting a special ballot, and casting votes at advance polls or on election day.

However, Yakeleya said the Elections Canada's mail-in process is unrealistic for communities in the Sahtu.

"In theory it sounds like this is a good process," he said. "However, you know at times the mail to get to our communities sometimes takes a week."

Plus, he said English is the second language for some of his constituents and they don't know the mail-in process. "No one has come around to explain it in their language."

Benson said Elections Canada reaches people in different languages.

"I do know that we do provide voter information in 11 aboriginal languages," she said.

Advance polls will take place in Inuvik, Norman Wells, Yellowknife, Behchoko, Fort Simpson, Hay River and Fort Smith on April 22, 23 and 25, Benson added. "Those dates are actually set by law."

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