Reaction to sundance ceremony was pure politics

An unfortunate confrontation is developing in Saskatchewan, and it may not even be necessary.

This past week, the RCMP were called to Beardy’s First Nation because of a complaint that a group was gathering to hold a sundance.

It was like a scene out of the past. From 1885 to 1951, the sundance, a religious practice from the plains, and the Potlatch, practised by the people on the west coast, were both banned. This was a time when the government and the churches conspired to force the Indigenous people to accept Christianity.

Of course, the traditional practices of our people did not go away. When people are repressed it only makes them stronger and more determined.

On my reserve one time in the 1930s, the RCMP came out and dismantled the sundance lodge, which was a sacrilege. The next year, the ceremony was moved to the trees down by the Battle River. An RCMP officer was dispatched from Cut Knife to locate and put an end to the ceremony. Nobody knew where it was, and he received no directions. Finally, he got his car stuck in the mud and there was nobody around to help him. He ended up walking back to Cut Knife.

The next year, the Indian agent changed, and he chose to take a holiday during the week the sundance was held. Under the Indian Act, the Indian agents were given the powers of a justice of the peace, making it possible to call upon the RCMP to enforce the Indian Act.

The sundance is a religious ceremony practised by the Cree, Assiniboine Dakota, Saulteaux and other nations that live on the Great Plains. The ceremony is the most important ceremony of the year and is a celebration of thanksgiving and devotion. When one makes a vow to participate in a sundance, they must repeat that vow for four years. Also, throughout the winter, ceremonies are held in preparation.

There is a special protocol that must be followed. The person who is in charge of the sundance is independent and he must follow the rules of the ceremony.

The chief and council can only play a supporting role. We separate church and state like any other government in Canada. Nobody would expect the mayor of Saskatoon or Regina to be able to interfere in the practices of any religion, and the same applies to us.

Which brings me to the current controversy swirling around the sundance ceremony. Both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller have said that they would not limit these important religious practices. Premier Scott Moe, on the other hand, is in opposition, maintaining that nobody is exempt.

He left the door open, stating that he would be having a discussion with FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron.

NDP Leader Ryan Meili, on the other hand, stated that sundances should be supported and the government should reach out and work with the community.

There are two issues at play here.

First, we have the danger posed by the pandemic; our communities have been fastidious in their response by setting up check stops and encouraging people to stay home and isolate. Many of our communities have been more vigilant than the neighbouring towns.

Second, provincial jurisdiction doesn’t extend to First Nations land and using the pandemic as an excuse is not acceptable.

There is nothing Moe can do to prevent sundances from being held, since he lacks jurisdiction, but it doesn’t have to come to a confrontation.

It’s ironic that the sundance that was held on the Beardy’s First Nation was a special ceremony to pray for people during the pandemic and empower the scientists and researchers to find a cure. It was a ceremony for all mankind, and it became a political flashpoint.

The sundance ceremony traditionally takes place during the longest days of the year, and since the summer solstice is about a month away, the rules about isolation may change or discussions can occur to smooth things over.

This whole controversy was caused by political posturing and lack of knowledge about

First Nations culture and the jurisdiction of the province. It’s time to give our people their due and set aside the old colonial thinking.