CCF Members and Prairie MP SaskPoliticker met with Chief Tammy Cook-Searson and Community Elders in La Ronge to Discuss a Joint Approach on Indigenous Poverty and Reconciliation

“Empathy is a hard thing. It represents the highest level of emotional intelligence, acknowledges our differences and embraces them. We talk about putting ourselves in other’s shoes, maybe that is what empathy means, but then empathy would not be possible. What settler could put themselves in the shoes of those who faced Residential Schools? We can no more do this than attempt to put ourselves in the shoes of Holocaust survivors.”

“Today, we embark on a path of mutual understanding. We come from different cultures, separate backgrounds, but we endeavour to move forward and learn together. We’ve found that there are three main focuses in addressing reconciliation: ending poverty, providing clean drinking water, and building our understanding of one another.”

“Myself, Chief Cook-Searson, and the local elders I met with today all agreed that there are many more discussions that must be had to solve the issues. We’ve seen Government after Government talk about ending these problems, but not enough action. We believe that is because Government’s have not been engaging with the communities facing these problems every day. We’ve committed today to a CCF plan for a framework that will assess what needs to be done, cost it, and make a joint plan to address these issues.”

“There is some substance that we have committed to as well today. We know that a Guaranteed Basic Income with an incentive to get ahead will nearly eliminate poverty on reserves in itself. We’ve added billions in funding to Indigenous Governments and kept up with population growth and inflation. But most importantly, we’re introducing a nationwide cultural program with trips and events that schools can sign on to across Canada for our rural and urban youth to connect with youth in Indigenous communities, learn each others culture, and develop mutual understanding and respect.”

“This last project is critical. We’ve heard just this past year from Indigenous columnist from the Saskatoon StarPhoenix Doug Cuthand that fear is our worst enemy. For centuries Indigenous youth were told that they were inferior. From teachers, governments, priests, and ministers. We have to overcome this history of fear, and we can only do so in understanding.”

“Cuthand spoke as well of the fear of success. Poverty is all that many on reserves have ever known. The fear of losing everything holds people back. This is where our basic income plan will really support communities, because not only will it lift Indigenous peoples out of poverty, but will support them in getting ahead, ensuring they cannot fall behind.”

“We must also overcome our fear of each other. Racial fear, and political fear. Our CCF movement seeks to overcome this fear with conversations, mutual support, and most of all: hope. Common-Sense Common-Wealth isn’t just for urban Canada or rural Canada, it’s for all of Canada and that includes our Indigenous communities. We stand, truly, for prosperity for all, and we always will.”