---
title: "Four Indigenous candidates are running in Vancouver's 2026 civic election"
description: "Business in Vancouver reports that four Indigenous candidates are on the 2026 Vancouver ballot, all running for Park Board or School Board, while ABC Vancouver, the Greens, Vote Vancouver, and OneCity fielded none."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/news/indigenous-candidates-civic-election-september-28"
last_updated: "2026-10-10T04:01:16.876Z"
---

Business in Vancouver published a report on September 28, 2026, identifying four Indigenous candidates on Vancouver's 2026 civic ballot. Vancouver Is Awesome carried the same report by journalist Mike Howell.

All four are running for Park Board or School Board. Scott Jensen, who is Metis, is seeking re-election as a Park Board commissioner with Vancouver Liberals. [T'uy't'tanat Cease Wyss](/candidates/t-uy-t-tanat-cease-wyss) is running for Park Board with COPE. [Derrick O'Keefe](/candidates/derrick-o-keefe) is running for School Board with COPE. [Kat Nystedt](/candidates/kat-nystedt) is running for School Board with TEAM for a Livable Vancouver.

ABC Vancouver, the Green Party of Vancouver, Vote Vancouver, and OneCity Vancouver did not field any Indigenous candidates, the report says, based on responses from each party's communications team.

## What the candidates said

Business in Vancouver asked each of the four candidates why more Indigenous people are not on the ballot.

[Scott Jensen](/candidates/scott-jensen) told the outlet he sees himself as one Indigenous person in a civic system where wider representation matters, though he said he has not had the lived experience of many Indigenous people who continue to face racism and poverty. Jensen also noted that the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh nations have their own band councils, which may offer a more direct form of representation for some community members.

T'uy't'tanat Cease Wyss told Business in Vancouver that it is difficult to get nominated, let alone win an election, and said that Indigenous people do not feel seen or heard. "I've spent 40 years doing advocacy for all Indigenous people in this city," she said. "And I always get told by people that they're so grateful to be given a place to be seen and heard."

Derrick O'Keefe told the outlet that he was disappointed more Indigenous people had not run, and described trying to recruit Indigenous candidates for COPE in 2018 without success. He quoted a conversation with an Indigenous filmmaker who said the demands on Indigenous community leaders make it hard for them to commit to running.

Kat Nystedt said in an email to Business in Vancouver that she was not sure why Indigenous people are underrepresented in civic elections, adding that she hoped they would have the same opportunities as everyone else to run.

## The City's relationship with First Nations

Business in Vancouver notes that the City of Vancouver has a small Indigenous relations department and council-to-council relationships with the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh nations. In 2022, council approved a strategy under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, developed with the three nations.

Business in Vancouver also reports that it asked Mayor Ken Sim at a recent press conference why ABC Vancouver did not have Indigenous candidates in this race. The party's communications director said ABC has representation from other diverse communities, the article reports.

Voters can read the profiles of all four candidates on this site. The election is October 17, 2026; voting locations and advance dates are at [/where-to-vote](/where-to-vote).

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/sitemap.md) for all pages.