Wall government seems oblivious to changing times

When the cat is away or planning his exit from politics the mice will play. Such was the case for Education Minister Bronwyn Eyre, who made unfounded and unnecessary comments in the provincial legislature. Also, the department of the economy is on a collision course with First Nations for playing fast and loose with the tripartite agreement on treaty land entitlement.

Speaking in the legislature, Eyre stated that her son brought home a worksheet stating that European settlers were “colonists, pillagers of the land who knew only buying and selling and didn’t respect mother earth.” A closer inspection revealed that it was not the case.

The worksheet only raised the differences in respect to the land by the settlers and the First Nations. There was no reference to colonists and pillagers.

Eyre could be guilty of both misleading the legislative assembly and singling out a specific group for criticism. In both cases there were undertones of a racist agenda coming to the surface.

The reaction was swift and damning. The NDP opposition called for her resignation and the FSIN condemned her comments. It wasn’t just a partisan issue or opposition from a bunch of angry Indians. The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation stepped in, calling for reconciliation and the need to respond to the calls to action from the truth and reconciliation commission.

Also, a petition calling for the minister to resign is still circulating in spite of the fact that Premier Wall has vigorously defended her in the legislature. I don’t expect any action by the government. This government has a record of making bad decisions and sticking to them. The loss of the film and video tax credits, the trashing of the Northern Teacher Education Program (NORTEP) and the loss of the Saskatchewan Transportation Company are some examples.

Eyre’s comments were made on Nov. 1 and it took her two weeks to finally make an unequivocal apology. Her comments weren’t off-thecuff remarks or something said in the heat of an argument. Her comments were a part of her prepared speech to the provincial legislature and the people of Saskatchewan should expect better.

Meanwhile the provincial department of the economy is in the process of holding a Crown land auction, ignoring the constitutional responsibility for First Nations that have treaty land entitlement. The province is badly in debt and running a deficit so the sale of land and resources is one way to raise revenue.

The Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement was negotiated and signed by three governments: the federal, provincial and First Nations governments. This agreement refers to the 1930 natural resources transfer agreement which states that the province is obliged to make Crown land available to satisfy outstanding treaty land entitlement. The framework agreement states that the province make Crown land available at fair market value agreed to by both parties.

In other words, First Nations that want provincial Crown land for TLE purposes don’t have to bid and must be given adequate advance information if the land is to be made available for sale.

There is legal action coming down the pipe to put a stop to the continued sale of Crown lands. It’s entirely possible that future sales will be blocked and the government will be the authors of their own misfortune.

First Nations and Metis people are waiting for an apology from Premier Wall for the province’s role in the ’60s Scoop. The scoop refers to the strident apprehension of First Nations and Metis children that began in the 1960s and still continues to the present. This should be a non-partisan issue since every administration from the Thatcher government in the 1960s participated.

Wall has to craft an apology that is sincere but doesn’t cost the province any money in compensation.

The atmosphere between the provincial government and the First Nations and Metis constituents has changed. The truth and reconciliation commission has created a growing awareness about Indigenous history and our place within Canada. Also, we have a young, growing population of increasingly educated people.

Times are changing and the Wall government and future governments must face this historic change.