Opinion

Doug Cuthand: Don't push First Nations to the economic margins

Friday, November 9, 2012

"Bernie Shepherd loves to push the envelope. In 1994, when he was chief of the White Bear First Nation, he set up Saskatchewan's first Indian-owned casino on his reserve.

The result was a late night raid by the RCMP, followed by negotiations with the provincial government that set up the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority and its six casinos.

Well, Shepherd is it again. This week he flipped the switch for an online casino, the province has declared it illegal and the case is before the RCMP.

Will there be another RCMP SWAT team raid on White Bear?

This raises the dicey issue of First Nations jurisdiction. The provincial and federal governments like to ignore our right to self-government and self-determination. Instead, the federal Aboriginal Affairs Department likes to focus on accountability and petty political issues, while it ignores or ridicules the big picture."

Get the Story:
Doug Cuthand: Don't push First Nations to economic margins (The Saskatoon StarPhoenix 11/9)