’60s Scoop apology could happen soon, Brad Wall says
SASKATOON Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall says a long-awaited apology to victims of the ‘60s Scoop could come before he ends his decade-long career in office.
Wall announced two years ago that an apology would be coming for decades-old policies of removing Indigenous children from their homes and placing them with non-Indigenous families — a practice that stripped the children of their language, culture and traditions.
He said at the time that the province did not intend to offer cash to the victims.
“We are ready immediately. We are ready to do this next week,” Wall said Friday after announcing an upcoming byelection for the constituency of Saskatoon Fairview.
Manitoba became the first province to apologize to Indigenous adoptees in 2015. Wall said it’s up to the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and Metis Nation-Saskatchewan to suggest an appropriate venue for the apology.
Wall added he’s not expecting to be premier past January and would like the apology to happen before he retires.
“We want to earnestly provide this opportunity for reconciliation,” he said.
Wall announced Thursday that he is stepping down to allow for renewal in his party and government. He said he intends to stay on as premier and MLA for Swift Current until a replacement is chosen through a leadership convention.
After announcing his retirement plans, Wall said he wished more progress had been made to improve the lives of Indigenous people during his ten years in office.
Some headway was made on education and employment, but “there has not been enough progress that I would point to with satisfaction.”
Robert Innes, an associate professor of Indigenous studies at the University of Saskatchewan, said there were a few positives during Wall’s tenure when it came to Indigenous issues, but with big caveats.
The Saskatchewan government fostered partnerships with First Nations and Metis communities on resource development, but he said that kind of economic development has a shaky foundation in the long-term.