Premier Wall sees issue of racism improving among youth

Premier Brad Wall doesn’t think the issue of racism that has reared its head in the past month is unique to Saskatchewan.

“I just want to reject the fact that I have seen commentary – that it’s somehow is unique or has a greater presence in our province, sadly it has a presence right across the country,” Wall told reporters Tuesday.

The issue of racism has been highlighted since the shooting death of 22-year-old Colten Boushie who is First Nations.

Wall believes the younger generation, like his kids seem to talk in a different way than perhaps his generation or his parent’s generation.

“They don’t have some of the thoughts perhaps or thinking that even our generation did or our parents did,” Wall said. “And so I think we should be hopeful about that and continue to focus on young people.”

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) Chief Bobby Cameron is calling for the issue of racism and how to address it to be included in the school curriculum.

Wall is open to that idea because of the change he has seen generation to generation.

“It’s not there, it’s changing and I think that’s because the school system has been a part of the process, it needs to continue to be a part of the process,” Wall explained.

The premier doesn’t think a racism strategy for the province would necessarily work.

“I’m not sure what program you could do to deal with the other generations that aren’t frankly as enlightened as our kids are.”

Wall took his own First Nations MLA, Jennifer Campeau, out of cabinet to become a legislative secretary.

He has asked her to go into schools, particularly in core areas, to focus on First Nations student achievement and tell her story and life experiences.