Doug Cuthand
The StarPhoenix
June 08, 2007
Interest is growing in the Day of Action, planned and promoted by the Assembly of First Nations since it was proposed in a resolution at the AFN's assembly in December 2006.
A reporter from Central Canada recently asked me what is happening in Saskatchewan. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to give him the answer he sought. June 29 most likely will dawn and pass without fanfare in this province.
Saskatchewan First Nations for years have had very a conservative leadership. The chiefs, band councils and the executive of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations have not promoted demonstrations or direct action to achieve their ends.
The last time our people took direct action was during the school strikes in the 1970s, when the lid finally blew off the Indian Affairs Department's policy of forcing integration and ignoring First Nations' demands to control their children's education.
Parents withdrew children from area schools and established on-reserve schools. It proved to be the right move, as many towns have shrunk and aged while reserves continue to grow and have a much younger population.
But that was then and this is now. I imagine there will be marches and speeches, but the FSIN is not planning anything. A look at its website reveals no mention of the Day of Action.
The strikes of the '70s took place during the fall and winter, when our people are much more likely to turn to political issues. Spring and summer are when we relax, travel and practise religious ceremonies.
June and July traditionally are times when First Nations hold their sundances. These important ceremonies take precedence over everything and require months of preparation by the participants. A day of protest certainly won't change this age-old practice.
Also, the summer months are spent travelling to powwows on the weekends. This, too, is a time-honoured tradition that brings families ad communities together and is an important part of our social customs.
By the time June 29 rolls around, the students will be out of school or university and many will be working at summer jobs. Again, the day of protest will be a low priority. Demonstrations that had strong student participation, such as the marches to protest the Saskatoon Police Service's practice of dumping Indians at the edge of town, took place during the fall and winter.
The AFN is calling the day of protest to bring attention to the issues of land claims and First Nations living conditions. Both these are major issues in Indian Country, with living conditions receiving universal concern. But in Saskatchewan, land claims are ahead of the curve after 29 First Nations received the historic Treaty Land Entitlement settlement in 1992. More were brought into the agreement later. As well, a number of specific claims have been settled and more are in the pipeline.
The TLE agreement was a historic settlement, with more than half a billion dollars transferred to Saskatchewan. It greatly expanded our land base, created wealth and was a lifeline for many retiring farmers. First Nations were buying land in record amounts during the 1990s and it buoyed a stagnant market for farmland.
First Nations living conditions in Saskatchewan need improving, but at this time we have our highest rate of employment in history.
Our people are working in Alberta and Saskatchewan and, as a result, our standard of living is on the rise.
It's becoming increasingly apparent that government can't do everything, but it needs to step up to the plate when required.
So what is the FSIN planning for June 29? I contacted the chief's office for a list of planned blockades, marches and other acts of civil disobedience and came up with nothing. Instead Chief Lawrence Joseph has contacted Premier Lorne Calvert and Opposition Leader Brad Wall to issue a joint press release that calls for more equitable finding to First Nations and faster action on land claims. Joseph expects to hear from them soon.
The FSIN doesn't expect that there will be large demonstrations in Saskatchewan but it's hoping for a big rally in Ottawa, where it will receive recognition. The object of this exercise seems to be to educate the public and get Canadians on side.
First Nations people know that it's important for the public to understand what they want.