Peepeekisis Takes Claim To United Nations
Wednesday, May 05, 2010 at 14:52
The legacy of colonialism in southern Saskatchewan is being thrown into the international spotlight.
Recently a representative of the Peepeekisis First Nation spoke to a delegation at the United Nations about the File Hills Indian Farm Colony.
Evelyn Poitras says her band has been trying for decades to get the federal government to recognize what went on there.
She says the farm was created in the late 1890s for graduates of residential schools to work at.
However, she says it was also one Indian agent’s attempt at social engineering.
According to Poitras, only certain First Nations graduates were invited, and their behaviour was closely monitored to make sure they didn’t revert back to their old language or culture.
In some cases, she says marriages were arranged by the local school principal and residential school priest.
She says the farm has had a lasting effect on her community and that needs to be recognized.
The claim has been in the hands of the Indian Claims Commission for the last two decades — which has prompted the band to enter the litigation process in recent months.
Poitras says talk on treaty issues belongs in the international community.
She says the Canadian government has begun to domesticate the treaty discussion and that has to change.