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Since the original decision, the tribunal has stated 10 times that the federal government failed to comply with its orders to fix the funding discrepancies.

Now the tribunal has ordered that compensation be paid to the children who were affected by the government’s parsimony, and it didn’t mince words. In the order, the tribunal stated that the federal government’s discrimination against Indigenous children was “wilful and reckless.”

“Canada’s conduct was devoid of caution with little to no regard to the consequences,” the order stated.

“Canada was aware of the discrimination and of some of its serious consequences … Canada focused on financial considerations rather than on the best interests of First Nations children and respecting their human rights.”

This damning indictment reflects the racism that has serious consequences in the lives of our people. No political party is innocent. Both successive Conservative and Liberal administrations federally are responsible and in Saskatchewan the Liberal, NDP and Conservative governments all participated in the Sixties Scoop.

The federal government has until Oct. 7 to file an appeal, which is two weeks before election day.

According to a spokesperson for Indigenous Services Minister Seamus O’Regan, the government is reviewing the tribunal’s order and will decide what course of action to take.

This whole devastating policy imbroglio could have been avoided with less racism and more common sense and respect for our people. This is a case of the chickens coming home to roost and at the end of the day it is apparent that it would have been much cheaper to do the right thing in the first place.

Blackstock, the woman who led this revolt for years, is seen by many in Indian Country as a candidate for sainthood. As she says, “Treating kids fairly should not require a court order.”