Page "Independent Native Voice" Paragraph 2

Independent Native Voice was one of two unregistered parties to focus on aboriginal issues in the 1995 campaign.

The other was the First Peoples Party ( FPP ) led by Jerry Fontaine, the nephew of future Canadian Assembly of First Nations leader Phil Fontaine.

The FPP had no formal association with Independent Native Voice, and was not implicated in the post-election controversy.

Nelson and Carey Contois nevertheless affiliated with the FPP in mid-campaign, and ran with endorsements from both parties.

Sutherland did not join the FPP, and was not in regular contact with the Contoises after declaring his candidacy.

According to later reports, Sutherland told Jerry Fontaine during the campaign that Progressive Conservative organizers had promised him at least $ 3, 000 to declare his candidacy.

Fontaine encouraged Sutherland to take his story to the media, though Sutherland did not do so at the time.