Aiming to be youngest chief in Ontario history
Darian Baskatawang, 21, who left reserve for university wants to ‘start giving back’
Darian Baskatawang says he was raised by the community in Whitesand First Nation, and now, after 21 years, he’s hoping to lead that community as chief — providing an ambiguous code doesn’t bar him.
Baskatawang announced his candidacy last week. If elected, he’ll pass Wade Cachagee as the youngest chief in Ontario’s history. Cachagee was elected to lead the Chapleau Cree First Nation when he was just 27.
For the 21-year-old Baskatawang, the bid for chief has been a long time coming.
“For better or for worse, I grew up on the reserve,” Baskatawang said in an interview with the Star. From his early years, he said, he was exposed to issues of addiction, child welfare and education.
“My mom was an alcoholic,” he said. “Or, I guess, still is. But it’s not as bad anymore. That, plus having younger sisters, meant playing a protection role.”
Baskatawang said his childhood on the reserve north of Thunder Bay — where he was raised in large part by his great-grandmother — gives him “credence” to speak with politicians about the impact of their policies on Indigenous youth.
Since diving into politics at 16, Bas- katawang has advised Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in his work with youth councils as well as in positions within government offices.
But policy may also be the main hurdle for Baskatawang in his quest to become chief. A Whitesand membership code — written in 1986 — includes chief election guidelines that prohibit candidates younger than 25. The code has never formally been validated — while it exists on paper, it has never officially been put to a referendum or community vote.
The issue of its validity was brought before the Federal Court of Appeal six years ago, during the case of Diabo v. Whitesand First Nation. At the time, the court ruled that the question of its validity was purely academic, as there was no contesting party. Therefore, the court declined to rule on it.
Baskatawang worries that protest by his opponents over the code could cost him a place in the election. He expects the ballot in October to list four names, including current chief Allan Gustafson.
“Last election, he said he was only running again because he didn’t see any qualified candidates,” Baskatawang said. “So hopefully that changes when he sees his little protege running against him.”
For his part, Baskatawang hopes “identity politics” don’t factor into his campaign, particularly after he left Whitesand to study politics at Queen’s University.
“They might pull that card and say, ‘Well, who are you? Someone who left.’”
He said he hopes that he can impress upon the reserve’s youth that they’ll be supported to “go and do what you need” — but also that there’s something valuable in coming home to Whitesand.
“Growing up, I was always told go and get an education. ‘Don’t come back, there’s nothing for you,’” he said. “Five years later, I’ve got a degree, I’ve done a lot, and I feel like I’m ready to go back and start giving back.”