Creating a diverse and inclusive campus is an ongoing process at the University of Saskatchewan and one student group is leading the way with the creation of a position specifically designed to advocate for Indigenous perspectives.

David D’Eon, J.C. Steele and Dallas Fiddler of the PSSA and ISC strive for reconciliation.

The Political Studies Students’ Association, in consultation with the Indigenous Students’ Council, has added an Indigenous students’ representative position to its executive this year. The position is designed to act as a liaison between the two groups, ensuring that Indigenous perspectives are included in all aspects of the PSSA.

The creation of the Indigenous students’ representative follows a forum at the U of S on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, a list that includes 94 recommendations for government institutions on how to move forward and create reparations for the trauma caused to Indigenous people by residential schools.

Dallas Fiddler, second-year political studies student and president of the ISC, says that the PSSA is one of many student groups that approached the ISC about incorporating Indigenous perspectives into their work.

“One of the ways a lot of student groups have tried to engage the ISC [is] by creating new positions,” Fiddler said. “I think that really falls under the 94 recommendations, when they’re creating positions for an Indigenous student and allowing that Indigenous dialogue to be introduced.”

The ISC represents over 2,200 Indigenous students at the U of S. Although this is only a small percentage of the over 20,000 students that attend the university, Indigenous issues are present in all areas of university life.

For David D’Eon, president of the PSSA and third-year political studies student, it is essential to have Indigenous perspectives represented in the PSSA in order to create an inclusive student group.

“Creating the Indigenous students’ representative position is kind of an act to recognize that … it is necessary to include Indigenous voices … in order to have a full and complete conversation about pretty much any topic in Canadian politics,” D’Eon said

He acknowledges that, even with the TRC and its recommendations, there is still a long way to go when it comes to creating an equal society. He also emphasizes that the role of organizations and groups like the PSSA is to listen and learn, rather than speak over the voices of Indigenous people.

“We have to recognize that Canada is struggling against an incredibly difficult battle with racism,” D’Eon said. “We have to understand that if we’re serious about standing up against racism and we’re serious about standing up against [exclusion], then that needs to begin now, right? So we make these habits of listening and these habits of understanding and collaborating with people so that we know we can become better citizens as we move forward.”

The Indigenous students’ representative position on the PSSA was filled by first-year political studies student J.C. Steele. Although new to the position, she has already had the opportunity to attend an ISC meeting and raise questions on Indigenous issues for the mayoral debate on Oct. 17.

For Steele, the importance of Indigenous issues is something that extends far beyond the university community.

“Overall, in Saskatoon and Saskatchewan, Indigenous people always feel like they’re one step behind … you look at how disproportionate our criminal justice system is, or poverty rates or currently, new cases of HIV — it’s just that people of Aboriginal descent seem to be hit the hardest, so we need to work the hardest at helping our people get ahead,” Steele said.

The widespread struggles of Indigenous peoples only reinforce Steele’s belief that education and dialogue are key to progress, two things she hopes to accomplish in her role as the Indigenous students’ representative.

“The reason this is so important to us, or to me specifically, is because … one of the keys to reconciliation and to overcoming everything Indigenous people have gone through is education, and so our main goal is to just make education as a process — being in university — easier for students and [for them] to feel more welcome and that they actually have a voice here, no matter college they’re in.”

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Emily Klatt

Photo: Jeremy Britz / Photo Editor