Bill C-262 rally pushes for indigenous recognition

The Frances Morrison Library theatre was packed full of support for Bill C-262.

The downtown library event was to put pressure on Ottawa to enact a piece of legislation that would align Canada with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.

Many supporters, including those attending Saturday’s event, believe the legislation wouldn’t just introduce new laws to Canadians, but it would also provide a legislative framework for reconciliation and many of the calls to action brought forward from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

“Right now, where most of the countries have adopted it and embraced it, Canada has still been holding back a little bit,” Anglican Bishop Chris Harper said. “Right now, it’s being stalled at the senate level.”

The timing of the rally is to put pressure on legislators ahead of a major deadline for Bill C-262. Although it has already passed two readings in the Senate, if the bill doesn’t make it to committee by March 21, it will have little chance to make it through the Senate before the final session in June.

Event organizer Valerie Wiebe said missing those deadlines would be a sad day for the nation.

“That means we’re not doing what we’re supposed to be doing to help truth and reconciliation happen,” she said. “We have to learn to work together so everyone is feeling they are living a good life.”

The rally featured speeches from Harper, Muskeg Lake Cree Nation’s Harry Lafond, NDP MP Sheri Benson and Senator Lillian Dyck from Gordon First Nation.

Saskatoon Tribal Council’s Mark Arcand also voiced his support for the rally.

While supporters and organizers taking part in the rally are pushing for positive change, Wiebe said the goal isn’t to change the world overnight.

“It’s a matter of emboldening those senators who are in favour and getting them to say,’ whoa, this is really important. We need to get this passed.'”