A candidate in next week’s FSIN chief election says he thinks more international pressure should be put on the Canadian government to ensure it honors treaty commitments to First Nations.
Morley Watson has been acting as interim leader ever since former FSIN chief Guy Lonechild’s resignation last year.
Watson says housing, health and education are three main issues facing Saskatchewan residents who live on-reserve — and that’s largely because of Canada’s failure to honor its treaty obligations:
“I think we have to have greater presence at the United Nations. I think we have to consider what the leaders did, 300 of them, what they did in the early 80s. Perhaps have an audience with the Queen and her people to ensure that we start telling on Canada for the shameful treatment they’ve given our people.”
Watson says the socio-economic gap between First Nations and the rest of the population seems to be widening when it should be getting smaller.
He is opposed in next week’s election for chief by fellow challengers Delbert Wapass and Perry Bellegarde.