The Treaty Commissioner of Saskatchewan hosted an event Feb. 9 bringing together people to speak about the legacy of the Gerald Stanley verdict.

On Feb. 9, 2018 Gerald Stanley, a white Saskatchewan farmer was acquitted of killing of 22-year-old Colten Boushie.

The event started with the viewing of We Will Stand Up, a film by Tasha Hubbard looking at the death, the acquittal and the impact of colonialism and racism on the prairies.

Hubbard joined Treaty Commissioner Culbertson, along with Colten’s mother Debbie Baptiste, his uncle Alvin Baptiste, Elder Jenny Spyglass, lawyer Eleanore Sunchild, Treaty Land Sharing Network member Mary Smilie, and FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron for a panel discussion.

About 70 people joined the event online.

Debbie and Alvin spoke about missing their family member, the mistreatment of family by the RCMP, and their upset and anger at a lack of inquest or apology.

“Colten may be gone, but he’s not forgotten, he’s still in our heart,” Alvin said.

Mary Smilie spoke about the creation of the Treaty Land Sharing Network as a response to the verdict.

“To bring landholders together to honour the idea of treaties,” she said, emphasising that there needs to be land sharing as part of reconciliation.

“Our way forward is through the land, with the land, and understanding the land in a brand-new way.”

During the event Hubbard talked about the launch of a new resource developed to support Indigenous families so they can be more informed about the legal system. 

There was important discussion on rights, changes to policing, and the importance of standing together, speaking up.

“We need to heal from the generations and generations of trauma,” said the Treaty Commissioner. “If we do not heal our nations, communities and people, then our treaties mean nothing. That is the work we have to do, and we have to do it together.”

See more news coverage on the event here:
Film screening and panel discussion mark four years since Gerald Stanley acquitted in killing of Colten Boushie – MBC Radio News

Four Year Anniversary Of Gerald Stanley’s Acquittal In Death Of Colten Boushie – CJWW