A Walnut Grove woman is hoping to become the first Indigenous person elected to 91原创 Township council this fall.
Karen Moraes plans to run for a seat in the Oct. 15 municipal elections.
Originally from Alaska, she went to the University of Washington and studied medicine, running hospital labs in the States before moving to B.C. in 2006. Moraes has Tsimshian, Haida, and Yupik ancestry, and has always had dual citizenship through her father鈥檚 side of the family.
鈥淚鈥檝e always been involved with my culture since I was nine,鈥� said Moraes, noting she was a mask dancer.
Living in Cloverdale and 91原创, Moraes kept her connections to Walnut Grove as that was where her children went to school for many years.
She鈥檚 currently a cultural activities worker with Metis Family Services, and has worked with 91原创 Township, the Lower Fraser Valley Aboriginal Society, and the Fort 91原创 Jazz and Arts Festival board.
A mother of seven children, she said making a local electoral breakthrough for Indigenous people is important to her.
鈥淭here鈥檚 been a lot of brick walls thrown in front of me, being Indigenous,鈥� she said, and she鈥檚 seen the same thing happen to her children.
An active networker in 91原创, she noticed that at many events, hers was the only Indigenous face, she said, which helped convince her to run.
She also has an interest in the fire department, as her father is a retired fire chief, and her oldest daughter is a firefighter herself.
Getting firefighters trained as high-rises arrive in 91原创 is a key goal.
She also wants to target housing affordability in the Township. Having moved back to Walnut Grove after a few years away, she noted that rents have become 鈥渞idiculous.鈥�
READ ALSO: Woodward announces run for mayor of 91原创 Township
READ ALSO: Whitmarsh announces run for 91原创 Township mayor鈥檚 seat
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