Indigenous ceremonies must be allowed to proceed

A few days ago, posted on my Facebook page was a statement which read “RCMP with guns interrupt a Sundance Lodge Ceremony.” My first thought: ‘Must be a historical piece.’ Reading further, I learned the incident happened this month. I was horrified.

The Sundance Lodge is the highest ceremonial healing dance for most Plains tribal groups. These ceremonies were illegal until 1951. Our elders remember ceremonies held in secret and relatives sentenced to jail for participating. In the late 1890s, a 104-year-old man from Piapot was sentenced to hard labour in Stoney Mountain.

During the 1930s, my aunt risked a six-month prison sentence when she held a “horse dance” for her sick husband. Consequently, the ceremonies went underground.

This recent experience brought all those experiences back. Our elders held their breath, young well-educated ceremonialists were challenged, all vowed they, too, would go underground.

The ceremonies wouldn’t end. Especially considering these ceremonial practices cannot be found anywhere else, in the world. Everyone else has a homeland for their religions, language, and economies to flourish. It’s a step towards genocide.

Premier Moe, RCMP Assistant Commissioner Mark Fisher and the Director of the First Nations Health Services and their staff should have taken a basic First Nations Studies or Constitutional Law course.

In fact, it should be mandatory to all legislators and staff. Sec. 91.24 of the Constitution Act states “Indians and lands reserved for Indians” are a federal responsibility and current case law supports this. It’s the reason for the Jordon Principal, why on-reserve disabled children do not have the same supports as any Saskatchewan resident.

Furthermore, the language used by the First Nations Health Benefit official in the memo sent to the chief was telling. The further actions by the RCMP screams systemic racism within the very institutions established to uphold the integrity of the law and the Constitution.

The world is watching Saskatchewan. Let’s show them most residents aren’t racists