Seven Indigenous candidates in federal election

Six ridings will offer voters Indigenous candidates to choose from. The only riding with two Aboriginal candidates on the ballot is the northern riding of Lakeland where NDP candidate Duane Zaraska will face off against Liberal candidate Garry Parenteau. Both men are Métis and active in local Métis politics. Parenteau is the only Indigenous candidate the Liberals are running in Alberta. Joining Zaraska on the NDP slate are Katherine Swampy (Battle River-Crowfoot), Aaron Paquette (Edmonton Manning), Melody Lepine (Fort McMurray-Cold Lake), Fritz Bitz (Edmonton-Wetaskiwin), and Cameron Alexis (Peace River-Westlock). The Assembly of First Nations has identified 51 ridings across the country in which First Nations voters can make a difference. In Alberta, the AFN has singled out Edmonton-Griesbach.