That's a hard question, but yes, I think there are studies that can be done. Obviously, the position of some nations is that they don't participate in the federal electoral process because they consider themselves sovereign, such as the Mohawks. That's a well-documented position.
Where we have some more information is on individual motivations, and I think that is an important area of study. In addition to political motivation, we've seen studies showing that if there's a first nation representative running, there's more likelihood that first nation voters will turn out.
It's an area that definitely needs more study. We have a lot more questions than answers, and I'll just mention that in addition to individual motivations and positions of nations generally, there are also other impacts, like the timing of the fixed election. The timing of the fixed election in October falls right in prime hunting season, and this is the period when people are out on the land and not thinking about going to the community hall and casting a vote, because they're busy filling up their freezers and making sure their families have resources for the winter. That impacts first nation participation in the election as well.
