Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC) says two provincial government employees were sent home for wearing orange shirts.
In a media release, the tribal council, which represents nine member First Nations, said the incident happened on Monday and involved two women who work for the provincial Ministry of Justice in Meadow Lake. The release said one of the workers is a survivor of the residential school system.
MLTC Tribal Chief Jeremy Norman said the incident is concerning for multiple reasons, including the fact that it happened in a workplace that aims to advance justice. That raises some systemic questions, he said.
“It also raises questions about the understanding of, and sensitivity toward, Indigenous issues within the institution itself,” Norman said in the release.
The tribal council is calling for an investigation and for steps to be taken to make sure the incident is not repeated.
“True reconciliation requires action, understanding, and the creation of spaces where Indigenous voices and experiences are respected and valued,” the tribal council’s statement said.
Vice chief Richard Durocher said Sept. 30 is about recognizing survivors, and in sending them home their employer effectively silenced them.
“It’s a reminder of how much work still needs to be done for real change to happen,” he said.
The Ministry of Justice declined to comment, citing restrictions on government communications currently in place for the provincial election.
When asked about the MLTC’s statements while he was on the campaign trail on Friday, Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe said if re-elected his party would look at expanding legislation that protects the wearing of poppies in the workplace to include the wearing of orange shirts.
“A re-electedSaskatchewanPartygovernmentwouldcertainlysitdownwithanumberofdifferententities,including,again,our Indigenousleadersacrosstheprovince,onlookingatexpandingthatlegislation,” he said.
Moe did not commit to the tribal council’s request to make Sept. 30 a statutory holiday. He said advancing truth and reconciliation requires broader work than just adding a holiday. He added that the province has a large number of statutory holidays on the books compared to other provinces.
Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck said an NDP government would consider making Sept. 30 a statutory holiday. It’s important to allow for reflection while working toward a better future, she said.
“It’sanimportantdaytohonoursurvivorsofresidentialschools,toallowCanadianstoreflectonthehistoryofcolonizationandthetreatmentof Indigenouspeopleinthiscountry,intheprovince,” she said.
— With files from Larissa Kurz and Alec Salloum
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