Saskatchewan’s Greatest Priority: Sustainability in Aboriginal Communities

COMMENTARY -  In our lifetime the proportion of aboriginal people in Saskatchewan will see a dramatic increase, especially amongst younger age groups.  Census data shows that over the past decade the proportion of aboriginal people soared from 11.4 per cent in 1996 to 14.9 per cent in 2006.  The numbers are even more blunt  among younger age groups. The 2006 Census showed that aboriginal people made up 23 per cent of those aged 10 to 19 and 29 per cent of persons aged 0- 4.  In 20 years from now, the 20-29 year age group will be nearly one- third aboriginal.

This presents a major demographic shift that is staring all of us in the face.  We hear continually of a torrent of studies and news stories regularly that catalogue the multitude of social issues facing aboriginal individuals including unemployment, insufficient education, crime, drugs, health issues, and the sex trade.  We as a province ignore these issues at our peril.  Failure to acknowledge and take action will result in catastrophe for our province. The First Peoples must become full partners and participants in our economy and our society, and the most effective way to ensure that is through education.

The bad news is that little is being done about this.  In fact, this issue is largely being ignored by today’s policy makers, mostly because this is a long term problem and Saskatchewan has a history of short sighted decision making revolving around election cycles.  The issue is also ignored because it requires a gut- wrenching look at the causes of these social issues and it is usually much easier to simply throw a little money at the symptoms.

Decades of socialist government in Saskatchewan have marginalized Aboriginal individuals. Instead of finding solutions that will allow all individuals in Saskatchewan to live freely, these governments have created large bureaucracies, which have the effect of burying the challenges facing Aboriginal individuals under mountains of paper and ineffective policies.

There are policy makers that understand the challenge, but simply see Aboriginal people as a ‘solution’ to labour and economic problems in the province instead of as individuals who should be empowered to pursue their own dreams.  I saw this attitude first hand from my years of experience working with the First Nations and Métis community when I was the manager of the Battlefords Regional Economic Development Authority.

If anything is to change, this paternalistic and elitist approach must end. It is critical that we adopt a new approach in partnering with First Nations and Métis people, which is precisely why the Saskatchewan Liberal Party made a commitment to First Peoples on June 30th of this year.  The commitment is only a first step in strengthening the partnership with First Peoples and creating a non- confrontational means of negotiation. 

There is hope.  The latest front in the campaign for economic and social sustainability and individual freedom in Saskatchewan is the Saskatoon Riversdale by-election.  Saskatchewan Liberal candidate Eileen Gelowitz has negotiated, advocated, and given these neighbourhoods a voice for decades.  The election provides an opportunity to send a message throughout the province that this issue can no longer be ignored.

Saskatchewan has no greater priority.  Anybody who disagrees should take a walk through the Saskatoon Riversdale core neighbourhood and imagine what it will look like 10-20 years from now if nothing is done.

 
- Ryan Bater, Leader of the Saskatchewan Liberal Party