Many aboriginal people in Yellowknife are opting not to vote in today’s municipal election because they say they’re not represented on the ballot.

Although aboriginal people make up almost a quarter of the population of Yellowknife, there are no aboriginal candidates running for council or mayor.

Jessie Mackenzie, a University student and Yellowknives Dene First Nation member, has never voted in a municipal election in Yellowknife.

“I really don’t see them representing my needs as an urban Aboriginal,” Mackenzie said of the mayoral and council candidates.

Another member of the Yellowknives Dene, Nuni Sansparial said historical issues have driven a wedge between the city and aboriginal people.

“As the city continues to grow, with no consideration of the First Nations members that were there beforehand, then of course there’s going to be tension, of course there’s going to be resentment and no interest in city elections.”

According to Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus, issues that are pertinent to aboriginal people are not addressed in city council.

“When issues arise our people don’t go to the mayor or the council; they go to our chief and our council. That’s our government,” Erasmus said.

“The mayor can’t really deal with our concerns because he doesn’t know what they are and he has no mandate to deal with them.”

Bill Enge, president of the North Slave Métis Alliance, believes that aboriginal people do not feel welcome in civic politics because they are not consulted.

“The mayors seem to find us an invisible Aboriginal people here,” Enge said. “I haven’t yet been contacted by any mayors to ask the Métis what their concerns are as to how the city is run.”

Enge hopes he and other leaders can start a dialog between First Nations people and the city.

Erasmus also wants to see a working relationship with the city to deal with issues like municipal boundaries.