MONTREAL—Aboriginal leaders hope to harness a wave of First Nations outrage to push people to vote and sway the results of this fall’s federal election.

Despite historically low rates of election participation, Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde says there are 51 ridings across the country where aboriginal voters could play a key role. Nearly half of them are held by the ruling Conservatives, according to a list produced by the national aboriginal group.

“Fifty-one ridings can make a difference between a majority and a minority government. People are starting to see that,” Bellegarde told a general assembly of the AFN in Montreal.

“Show that our people count. Show that our people matter. Show that we can make a difference. Show that our issues will not be put to the side.”

Those in attendance say the recent findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission examining the legacy of residential schools, the continued push for an inquiry into the large numbers of missing and murdered aboriginal women, and a lingering feeling of empowerment from the 2012 Idle No More protests has spurred a new determination among aboriginals across the country.

“I don’t see how we can go another four years with this government, frankly. The past nine years have been disastrous in terms of us as First Nations accomplishing what we set out to do for our peoples. A lot of that has to do with the failure of First Nations policy in this country,” said Ghislain Picard, the AFN’s regional chief for Quebec and Labrador.

Rarely has First Nations anger translated into such pragmatic talk, but aboriginal leaders will have to change a political culture that has traditionally shied away from involvement in federal and provincial politics with just three months left between now and the Oct. 19 election.

“I know these are not our governments, but this is a strategic vote,” said Grand Chief Patrick Madahbee of the Union of Ontario Indians, which represents 39 First Nations in the province.

Madahbee criticized Prime Minister Stephen Harper for signing trade deals that involve resources pulled from the land without the consultation or agreement of First Nations. But such complaints will receive little traction with federal parties if aboriginal people maintain their low-rates of election participation, he said.

“The Indo-Canadians, the Chinese Canadians . . . . There’s a whole number of groups that have learned that already. They have mobilized and they have influence. Right now we’re being ignored.”

Bellegarde said the AFN is looking for politicians to implement the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, call an inquiry into the large numbers of missing and murdered aboriginal women and end a 20-year funding freeze for aboriginals that has contributed to problems with aboriginal health, housing and education that other Canadians never have to experience.

“Invest in the fastest-growing segment of Canada’s population, our young men and women. Invest now and there will be huge rates of return on investment in the future,” Bellegarde said.

Both NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau spoke at the AFN meeting Monday and committed to improving the relationship between the federal government and aboriginal people. Both noted the fact that they had prominent and numerous aboriginal candidates who will be running for their parties in the next election.

“Aboriginal Canadians have understood for 10 years now what happens when their voices are not heard by the political process, when they are written off as they are by this Harper government,” said Trudeau.

It’s a hopeful sign for Tyrone Souliere, of the Garden River First Nation in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., who has taken it upon himself to lobby chiefs and band councils to get their people registered to vote in the October election.

Founded in frustration with the federal Conservative government, Souliere estimates there are some 30,000 eligible aboriginal voters in Ontario alone who could be harnessed to advance the cause of indigenous people in the coming election campaign.

His efforts are focused on educating eligible voters about the issues and on what they steps they need to take to ensure they can cast a ballot in the election, following changed to the Elections Act that place higher standards on what can be used to confirm one’s identity.

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“The only way to change how the government treats us is to change the government and to get that message to the politicians that there’s a block of votes in Indian country and it will be available to the one party that will best represent treaty, charter and indigenous rights in Parliament,” Souliere said.

“That’s the goal.”

THOMAS MULCAIR PROMISES:

-Every government decision will be reviewed by a cabinet committee to ensure they respect federal responsibilities toward aboriginal people.

-Increasing federal funding for aboriginal education so that it rivals that spent on non-aboriginal children in Canada.

-Federal environmental assessments for resource development projects will become more rigorous.

JUSTIN TRUDEAU PROMISES:

-There will be a legislative review that scraps or amends laws dealing with aboriginals that are deemed to be a violation of a section of the Constitution that affirms aboriginal rights.

-A guaranteed annual meeting between the prime minister and First Nations leaders.

-The two-per-cent freeze on aboriginal funding will be lifted to make more money available of the likes of education, health and housing.