Cowessess First Nation Chief Leads Reckoning for Cure | The Canadian News

Chief Cadmus Delorme is leading Cowessess First Nation through a challenging time of reckoning and healing, all while navigating a path to self-rule.

The First Nation is located nearly 200 kilometers east of Regina in southern Saskatchewan.

In June, Delorme announced to Canada, and the world, the discovery of at least 751 unmarked graves at the site of the former Marieval Indigenous Residential School, on the lands of Cowessess.

“The truth is a validation for indigenous peoples of the pain, the frustration, the ongoing struggle they feel with colonization,” Delorme said.

“We have one of two options right now: address the truth, accept the truth, then move on to reconciliation, or ignore reality and have our children resolve it. And I am one of those who do not wait for our children to realize it. “

To help with the difficult work ahead, the First Nation hired a Cowessess grandmother, Barb Lavallee, to lead the rejuvenation of the tomb.

“We divide it into two approaches: one of them is research and the other is technical. The technical thing is to verify the 751 hits, or unmarked graves, as we say, ”Delorme said, adding that the other approach is to investigate and name the unmarked graves.

“Dividing it in two has made the process much easier and has allowed us to build a team that is here for the long haul.”

By September 2021, the team had confirmed at least 300 names.

“I was raised by survivors of residential schools. My grandparents and great-grandparents are survivors of residential school. And I want to show everyone that reconciliation can happen in their kinship lineage, ”Delorme said.

“What they experienced is real. But hope is in the future because many of her children and grandchildren today are examples of what reconciliation can really be. “

Reconciliation through self-government

A little over two weeks after the tragic discoveries, Cowessess made history: officially becoming the first indigenous nation to receive full jurisdiction from coast to coast over its children in care, anywhere in Canada.

On July 6, 2021, a historic signing took place at Cowessess between Chief Delorme, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Saskatchewan Prime Minister Scott Moe.

“The ultimate goal of self-government right now, in this timeline with Cowessess First Nation, is that we will have our political sovereignty. And we have our own constitution, we have our own electoral law, we are about to introduce more important laws, ”Delorme said.

The First Nation initially passed child welfare legislation in March 2020, under Canada’s iconic Bill C-92, empowering indigenous communities to claim jurisdiction.

Delorme also noted that self-government is not possible without “cultural rejuvenation”: taking pride in indigenous dance, song, values ​​and teachings.

“And then, thirdly, economic self-sustainability. Cowessess wants to be a self-sufficient nation, ”he said, adding that he understands that there will always be a fiduciary obligation between the Crown and Cowessess.

“That will always continue. But Cowessess never asked to be dependent on the government and we will not allow that in our ultimate goal of self-government. “

When asked about the legacy he wants to leave one day, the boss acknowledged how the future of his own children and the work he is doing now are intertwined.

“I would like to leave my children knowing that their father is making a difference, so that when they reach my age they can continue to make progress,” Delorme said.

“And to this country: we inherited this and let’s not panic… let’s lower our shield. Have awkward conversations and put action plans for those awkward conversations so our kids don’t have to focus on this. They can focus on real progress. “