Replica teepee at legislature a reminder that ‘we’re still here’
REGINA Dinah-mae (Soolee) Papequash said she shed a lot of tears in the central teepee that once stood across from the Saskatchewan Legislative Building.
“We miss it, because that was part of our life,” she said.
She felt her spirit lift when she brought a small replica of that teepee into the Legislative Building on Wednesday, the day of the throne speech opening the third session of the 28th legislature.
“It was an empowerment for myself, spiritually, to actually go in there and hand it over, but it would have been better if I was able to give it to Scott Moe,” Papequash said.
The replica came with a letter addressed directly to Premier Moe. The Justice for Our Stolen Children camp may be gone, but the letter said that its work is far from over.
“Dear Scott Moe,” it read. “This official correspondence serves as a reminder that just because the teepees are gone does not mean the issues are resolved. With thousands of Indigenous children in care and cases that demand your attention in the justice system — you have a lot of work to do this year. How are you addressing these issues?”
Jim Billington, a spokesman for Moe’s office, told Postmedia News the government recognizes those issues are important.
He said in an email response that the throne speech highlighted a number of the government’s priorities for working with Indigenous peoples. He pointed to a forthcoming apology to survivors of the Sixties Scoop, an increase in the number of credentials awarded to First Nations and Metis students, and partnerships with the First Nations Power Authority.
But Papequash has other priorities. She said the legislature should be looking into current child welfare issues, inequality in the criminal justice system and, above all, coroner’s reports into the death of her son and others.
“My son’s death was indicated as an undetermined suicide,” she said. “I wanted the case opened because of the things that I found out after.” Her son’s name, Brandon Alexander Roberts-ironchild, was one of many that was painted on the side of the central teepee at the camp. It was also on the replica delivered on Wednesday. She said her other son, Lance, built the replica, while she painted the names. She said it was about letting those who’ve lost loved ones know that the camp is still alive in spirit.
“The importance of the replica to have the names put on was to let them know that we still care, we’re still here, we still have the fight in us … to let them know that we didn’t give up yet,” she explained.
Billington said the replica will be kept in storage, as are other gifts sent to the province.