The Musqueam Indian Band elected a new council Monday with many of the same faces despite a long list of candidates.

Sixty people ran for 10 council seats in the community of roughly 1,300.

Jordan Point sees the long ballot list as a reflection of Musqueam’s increasing wealth and population.

“It’s a product of our growth,” said Point. “It’s also a product of the Indian Act.”

Point seeks electoral reform that would see the Musqueam write its own constitution and draft its own electoral policies.

“We need a custom election process that’s more in keeping with something that is contemporary with our needs,” he said.

After sitting on council for six consecutive terms beginning in 1995, Point lost his seat in 2007 after he received the same number of votes as another candidate, Mary Charles, who did not win back her seat this year.

To break the tie, Musqueam’s electoral officer followed the guidelines set out in the Indian Act and put both names in a hat to draw a winner.

“It’s kind of archaic,” Point said.

Candidates in the Musqueam election require two band members to nominate them for chief or council, a reason many individuals are nominated but few are ever elected. Point is also floating the idea of introducing rotating terms and staggering election dates to create more stability and continuity between councils.

Point believes the process can be strengthened if candidates are asked to meet certain qualifications or a greater threshold of support to be nominated.

Point added candidates are rarely motivated by money.

Councillors receive $800 every two weeks for an annual honorarium of roughly $20,000. All councillors work other jobs, many with the band office.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation used Freedom of Information legislation to access and release the income for First Nation chiefs and councils across Canada, exposing the financial inequity within some communities.

“Speaking for myself, I recognize that people would be concerned with that,” said Wade Grant, 32, who elected to his second term and is the council’s youngest member.

Point and Grant both campaigned for continued economic development on Musqueam reserve, which is located near the mouth of the Fraser River in southwest Vancouver.

Retaining up-and-coming professionals at Musqueam is also important to Point.

“Succession planning itself is one of things that can bring in all of those high flyers. Who better to look after our assets than our own people?”

Although the results are unofficial until sanctioned by the federal bureau of Indian Affairs, Grant received the most votes of all candidates.

Roughly 50 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot.

Council is responsible for all departments, from housing and fisheries to economic development and land lease arrangements.

Wanona Scott, the acting band manager, said the incoming council draws from across the community.

“Overall, all those that were elected, it’s a good cross-section of each family representation,” she said.

The council will sit for two years beginning January 2011. Point and Grant are joined by re-elected councillors Nolan Charles, Howard Grant, Wade Grant, Wendy John, Allyson Fraser, Tammy Harkey, Wayne Sparrow and Nora Stogan. Myrtle Mckay is returning after an absence.

Ernie Campbell was re-elected chief for a sixth consecutive term.

mstewart@vancourier.com