Every year on March 21, we mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

It’s a day to recommit to making change and to working towards the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination.

While the day began in remembrance of the day police in Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire killing 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid laws in 1960, it’s as important now as ever here in Saskatchewan.

We have long had a rocky relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada. Issues surrounding the failure of full Treaty implementation, limiting of land rights, socio-economic impacts, stereotyping, and mistrust have led to a place where we see messages of hate spread online, violence in front of us and to us along with the existing, and systematic discrimination.

Across these lands we have seen bloodshed of Indigenous people and we are still hurting from it today, the killings of Colten Boushie and Tina Fontaine, and massacres like Wounded Knee, Cypress Hills, and the hangings at Fort Battleford.

How we act, what we believe, and what we say, has an impact on others, it is what we are teaching our children and our peers. In Saskatchewan, the Treaty relationship is suffering and while strides might seem to be made, we have a long way to go to see Treaty implementation the full spirit and intent of what our ancestors intended the Treaty relationship to be.

On the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Office of the Treaty Commissioner calls on individuals to join us by investing in true Reconciliation and relationship building, while having zero tolerance for any form of discrimination.

 

We need to do more than simply not get involved. We need to say this ends now and stand beside one another.

 

Across Saskatchewan people of action are coming together to build relationships, trust and understanding in an effort to make positive change and further a mandate of Truth and Reconciliation through our Treaty relationship. Join them. Start on your path of reconciliation. Learn more about your neighbours. Be part of the OTC’s for Vision for Truth and Reconciliation through Treaty Implementation

We believe that if we can come together on a common vision for success, that we can better work together, and create a better future for our children and grandchildren. One where everyone is equal and not judged on how they look, what their last name is, or where they are from.

We need to do better.