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An Indigenous elder declared her intention to run for Edmonton mayor Wednesday.

Taz Bouchier said she is the first Indigenous woman to seek the job.

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People of every race and culture need to be represented on council, she said.

Her announcement at Beaver Hills House Park was preceded by a smudge and prayer, as well as a wolf song by Chris Swan, who is from Treaty 2 territory.

“I have lived in Edmonton for 53 years and I can honestly say in those 53 years I have not seen my voice or heard my voice represented on council,” Bouchier said.

For 30 years, she has worked in justice, corrections and community development.

Bouchier ran for the Ward 6 seat in 2013 and was planning on running in the ward again, but people from across the city asked her to run for mayor, she said.

“Lately, what I’ve been seeing happen is not mindful of the people or listening to the people,” she said.

One example is lack of accessibility around transit centres that are under construction, she said.