With three thriving First Nations communities within the immediate area, the Chief and council of Ocean Man First Nations offered an open public seminar to educate the wider population on the topic of treaties.
These treaties, which govern the interaction between the communities themselves and the two layers of government, are complex and often confusing documents whose definitions are in a constant state of evolution as the understanding of the treaty agreements is refined.
It was concern about the level of public awareness about the treaties, and their impact, that led Ocean Man Chief Gloria Shepherd to discuss with the band council the possibility of putting on the public seminar on Wednesday, Sept. 29.
"We first began discussing the idea of holding a talk about the treaties not too long ago," Shepherd said. "We had actually held a seminar at Ocean Man back in the spring, but bringing it to Stoughton was a new idea."
Held in the hall of the Stoughton Legion Hall, the Legion hall also serves as the location of the local Adult Basic Education Program (ABEP), which teaches adult students to prepare them for grades 10 and 12 certificates.
The Stoughton ABEP is run through the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Eastern Regional College.
Funded through the Community Development Corporation of Painted Hand Casino, the seminar was given by Clayton Desjarlais.
"The goal of the seminar is to give people a comprehensive understanding of post-confederation treaties," Desjarlais said. "Answering the how and why of the workings of the treaties under the constitution."
Desjarlais is an excellent candidate for giving such a seminar. Teaching at the University of Regina for eight years, the past 14 years he has been in business as a consultant on treaty and First Nations matters.
"I hope to teach people that the treaties are to the mutual benefit of both parties," Desjarlais said. "Both the treaty Indian people benefit, as well as the Canadian people at large."
"There is a lot of animosity in some circles on both sides of the treaty agreements," Desjarlais said. "But the benefits are clear once you take a close look at how the transfer systems and the treaty agreements work."
"The treaties exist to implement the guarantee of rights within the Canadian confederation in exchange for land," Desjarlais said. "Therefore the treaties have had huge benefits for Canada and the Canadian coffers thanks to the land itself, as well as the mineral wealth that lies beneath it."
"There are people who still talk about cancelling the treaties on both sides of the fence," Desjarlais said. "But as of this point, cancelling the treaties would be logistically impossible. How would you deal with land issues, or mineral rights?"
"In the end, education is the most effective way of ensuring that all parties are aware of how the treaties benefit both sides," Desjarlais said. "It is the path to mutual understanding."
More than 30 people attended the seminar, with groups from the Ocean Man Adult Basic Education group, Weyburn Adult Basic Ed, Weyburn Public Library, and Stoughton Central School.
"Our students have been very excited to take part in the seminar," said ABEP instructor Cheryle Popplestone. "The program is a very good one, and Mr. Desjarlais is very well versed on the issues."
"Helping our students understand the treaty system is a great way to help them understand the workings of the government, and how the treaties function," Popplestone said. "It was a wonderful opportunity for them to take part in the talk."
As for Chief Shepherd, she has been happy with the response so far, though she is planning on further public seminars.
"We had offered an invite to the council of Stoughton, as well as the council of the RM of Golden West," Shepherd said. "However, with the harvest on, none were able to make it to the seminar."
"We are hoping to offer further seminars in the future, and we will again invite our neighbouring communities to come and take part," Shepherd said. "Hopefully they will be able to come, and more people from the general public will find time to come and join us."
Desjarlais' company, Mawandonan Consulting, offers training in diversity, conflict resolution, stress management, time management, and communication skills as well.
