Taanishi! (Hello!) 

My name is Laila Valila, and I am a Métis and First Nations woman from St. Louis, Saskatchewan. St. Louis is a small, francophone village outside of Batoche wherein many of my ancestors were the first migrants. I will not bore you with a land acknowledgement because I think acknowledging the land we’re situated on while actively engaging in colonial paradigms is redundant. 

On March 17, the University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union (USSU) held its annual candidate forum for its upcoming election. I attended and felt disheartened to see that there were no Indigenous students on stage. Throughout my time on campus, I have met many brilliant and hardworking Indigenous students who embody the values of the USSU, yet they never put their names forward. This is something we, as Indigenous students, need to change—but this change may only begin once we collectively acknowledge the USSU’s consistent undermining of Indigenous participation in its governance structures. 

After an hour of listening to non–Indigenous candidates express their desires to “empower Indigenous students” and to move forward with (re)conciliation, I felt infuriated. None of the candidates had engaged with Indigenous communities on campus prior to announcing their virtuous objectives, so how could they possibly know what we want?  I decided to make a comment during the Q & A session.  I mentioned that I had not seen any of the candidates at any Indigenous-led events. As Vice President External of the Métis Students of USask and a frequent visitor to the Gordon Oakes Centre, I’ve become familiar with our community and who engages with us. 

In turn, candidates defended themselves, and some even referred to the performative nature of land acknowledgments on campus. I found this odd because only an hour prior, they had each given the same scripted acknowledgements. It is truly remarkable how the University of Saskatchewan and the USSU have been able to operationalize reconciliation. By now, I have heard hundreds of these performed scripts from fellow students, faculty and professors over the years, and a majority of them felt insincere. Reconciliation is not an end to be achieved through means; reconciliation will never have an endpoint and the university must do a better job at making that apparent. 

Like many students, I am highly critical of the USSU. This is not the first negative experience I’ve had with them as an Indigenous student. During their 2023 Annual General Meeting, the USSU brought forward a motion to dissolve the Indigenous Students Advisory Committee (ISAC). I’ve since had the pleasure of being on this committee, and I can attest to its work— the dedication of the committee is admirable, and their work is invaluable. 

Anyway, a friend and I decided to voice our dissent. I often think back to that day and wonder what would have happened if we weren’t there. This is why it is important to engage with the USSU. Regardless of whether you love or hate them, you must be there to advocate for yourself, those in your college and those from your home. 

One thing that I think all of this year’s candidates missed the mark on was understanding the praxis of reconciliation. Reconciliation is a principle that we all must embody, but if you want to truly reconcile with Indigenous peoples, you must give them a voice. So I ask: Why is there not an Indigenous position in the USSU Executive? We have moved beyond the days of non-Indigenous people representing the Indigenous. I believe true reconciliation would entail giving the Indigenous on campus equal opportunities to participate in our student union. By allowing the Métis Students of USask and the Indigenous Students’ Union to nominate candidates for such a position, the USSU would be able to make real, progressive strides towards improving our experience on campus. 

Another example of the USSU’s performative activism is the lack of Métis-designated spots on campus. While the creation of the Gordon Oakes Centre was a huge milestone, it feels ironic that one of the most prominent buildings on campus is named after Louis Riel, yet the Métis continue to go without their own space. How can we grow and efficiently represent our people on campus if we don’t have the physical space to grow and network? It should be an embarrassment for the university and the student union that a Métis-designated spot hasn’t been explored and offered. 

On that sentiment, I also believe that the normalization of broad promises for Indigenous students from candidates is a fundamental issue of the USSU. International students, could you imagine a domestic student championing the horrible treatment you’ve received in this province? Candidates would be shunned by the campus community for trying to use their experience as a way to win votes. So why do we all allow non-Indigenous candidates to speak of the inequity we face as if they know anything about it? We must stop allowing people to use our hardships as a means of gaining power. Our stories and experiences cannot continue to be demeaned this way. 

I understand why the idea of reconciliation is unnerving for many, but as candidates representing the USSU, you have a responsibility to embody the principles of reconciliation. I’ve included recommendations for practicing reconciliation and hope these resonate with anybody reading. 

1. Quit the scripted land acknowledgements. This gesture has become irritating due to the lack of meaning expressed by most and the occasional mislabelling of our peoples. If you want to continue, at least take the time to learn the differences between the Métis and First Nations and our respective land titles. This is not the territory of the Métis, it is our homeland. 

2. Learn our languages, or even just our greetings. My ancestors took the time to learn English, often against their will. There are many opportunities to learn Indigenous languages on campus.  For example, the university offers courses for the Cree language and the Métis Students of USask offered (free) weekly Michif lessons earlier this year. 

3. Attend our events! Engagement is key to reconciliation. You do not have to be an Indigenous student to attend a majority of the events held by the Métis Students of USask or the Indigenous Students’ Union. In fact, we’d love to tell you about our cultures and allow you to experience some of our traditions! 

Finally, I want to end with a request. Now that the election is over, hold these new executives accountable. They are being paid to represent you and I, yet we allow them to disappoint us every year. Check where your money is going and show up to meetings to ensure they don’t try to limit the representation you deserve. After all, didn’t we learn anything from the legacy of our treaty relations?