Jamie Battiste to join race for Liberal leadership as first Indigenous candidate
Posted January 14, 2025 4:35 am.
Last Updated January 14, 2025 5:40 pm.
Sydney-Victoria MP Jaime Battiste announced on social media Monday that he is forming an exploratory team to consider running to replace Justin Trudeau and become the first Indigenous leader of a major political party in Canada.
Battiste said in the statement that he realizes this is an ambitious vision and is fully aware of the complexities of raising the required $350,000 entry fee.
“Before there was a Premier Wab Kinew, there had to be an Elijah Harper, before there was a President Barrack Obama, there had to be a Jessie Jackson,” said Battiste. “There must always be people willing to try, and there must always be people willing to take the first steps — even if their journey is one meant for future generations.”
In his statement, Battiste describes his vision of Canada as one that prioritizes human rights, reconciliation and environmental sustainability for future generations.
Battiste, who serves as chair of the Liberal party’s Indigenous caucus, says reforming the First Nations child welfare system and ensuring adequate funding for First Nations police services would be his top priorities as a leadership candidate.
The lawyer, former professor and Assembly of First Nations regional chief says someone has to be the first First Nations person to throw their hat in the ring, and that if nothing else he hopes he can inspire people and get them excited about Indigenous candidates.
He would join former MP Frank Baylis and Ottawa MP Chandra Arya as the only declared candidates.
