FSIN urges education to help combat racism

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) says racism is a learned behaviour that the provincial government needs to help eradicate.

In a media release sent out Wednesday FSIN chief Bobby Cameron said, “It is important to point out that racism is a reality in the daily life for indigenous peoples in Saskatchewan.”

This province, according to the FSIN, is home to more residential school survivors than any other.

Cameron said in the statement, “we are willing to work with the province to develop education curriculum that will move to eradicate racism in Saskatchewan.”

No one from the FSIN was made available for an interview.

Those comments come a day after Premier Brad Wall said he received a letter from the FSIN calling for more education focused on racism. In response, Wall highlighted what the government has already done regarding First Nations education — notably introducing treaty education into schools.

“We need to do more to ensure that what we’re doing in the schools deals with this problem,” said Wall, suggesting younger generations already are improving when it comes to racist attitudes. “It’s not there. It’s changing.”

Cameron said the FSIN has received letters of support from the United Church of Canada. He called upon the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA), the National Farmers Union, chambers of commerce, school boards, churches and other interest groups to join the FSIN in its efforts to eradicate racism.

The FSIN represents 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan.

Wall said Education Minister Don Morgan and First Nations and Metis Relations Minister Donna Harpauer would be following up with Cameron’s request for more education in schools.

That request comes at a time when racial tensions within the province heightened after the death of Colten Boushie, a member of the Red Pheasant First Nation. Gerald Stanley, the 54-year-old man charged with second-degree murder in the shooting of Boushie on a rural property near Biggar, is currently on bail awaiting his next court date.

Harpauer said Tuesday, shortly after being named a minister as part of the premier’s cabinet shuffle, that she would be, “looking at potential areas where there is a possibility of quelling any further animosity and hoping it doesn’t mushroom across the province.”

It is important to point out that racism is a reality in the daily life for indigenous peoples in Saskatchewan.