Puzzle given to Sask. students called offensive

MOOSE JAW, SASK.— A school division in southern Saskatchewan is apologizing after a handout with offensive words was mistakenly given to students.

A work package supplied last week to a Grade 3 class in Moose Jaw had a word search puzzle in the shape of a teepee.

It contained “squaw” and “papoose,” derogatory terms for Indigenous women and children.

Prairie South Schools said in a statement that the teacher gave the material to students who had completed other work before the long weekend.

The teacher had not carefully previewed the handout and was horrified to learn of its content Tuesday after a reporter called the school division to ask about the puzzle.

“I feel very badly that this has happened and offer my sincere apologies,” said Tony Baldwin, director of education for Prairie South.

“As a Treaty 4 person, I know the importance of accurate information for students.” Chief Bobby Cameron with the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations in Saskatchewan said the words in the puzzle are blatantly racist and wonders if other students were unwittingly given the handout in previous years.

“How are young students supposed to understand or learn the terms ‘reconciliation’ and ‘acceptance’ when you have an educator throwing this kind of hated material out to students?” he said.

“In this day and age? Holy crow.”