Let us dispense with the notion that rural Saskatchewan people are generally racist towards First Nations people.
Right now, this seems to an all-too-common perception that is neither true nor helpful when it comes to finding solutions.
Let us also acknowledge, however, that there are some in this province who are both fearful of, and racist towards, First Nations people.
Lest there still be any doubt of this, consider the bar discussions, coffee rows or online comments in the wake of the Pheasant Rump First Nation incident and the second-degree murder charge against 54-year-old Gerald Stanley.
So bad were the social media postings that Premier Brad Wall called on the province to stop “racist and hate-filled” comments and allow the RCMP and the judicial system to do its work.
“None of us should be jumping to any conclusions about what happened. We should trust the RCMP to do their work,” Wall noted. “I call on Saskatchewan people to rise above intolerance, to be our best and to be the kind of neighbours and fellow citizens we are reputed to be.”
The very that fact the Premier felt it necessary to call out his province on the racist comments suggest such racial prejudice from a few may be a bigger problem than we were aware of.
One can guess that a lot of it comes from fear that is quickly converted to hate.
The rare occasions of violent conflict between reserve residents and those in neighbouring farm or small town communities seem embedded.
But that, too, has to be an important talking point in the conversation we desperately now need to have.
Any productive conversation about race relations and how to make them better begins with discussing all such past grievances and putting these stories in perspective.
Of course past stories have absolutely nothing to do with what actually went on in Biggar and certainly do not merit the vile racism we have seen. Again, we don’t know what happened in that farmyard, other than the fact that a second-degree murder charge has emerged from it.
And whipping up hate and anger with more hate and anger is harmful.
As Wall rightly told those spewing their own brand of racism and even advocating more violence, such comments are actually against the law.
“There are laws that protect citizens from this kind of hate. They will be enforced,” Wall noted.
Sadly, many people have an odd view of what is legal or even appropriate.
For example, notwithstanding former prime minister Stephen Harper’s comment about people having the right to protect their property, someone points a gun at someone else and it’s considered assault.
Nor is there any constitutional right to defend one’s property, although common humanity and decency will already tell you that.
After all, is $30 worth of stolen gas an exchange for a life? Or is it worth a life of imprisonment?
But if we are to explore what drives the fear, we need to also explore the crime and violence problem on reserves and the impact it has had.
It is a reality that First Nations leadership would sometimes prefer to ignore … or blame on other past social injustices that go back decades.
But what simply can’t be ignored right now is the impact it not only has on First Nations people but also the surrounding communities.
If something positive is to emerge from the horrific events in Biggar, it will be because there was a frank discussion why many rural people - rightly or wrongly - feel threatened by First Nations people.
These problems aren’t going to be solved on the end of a gun.
The solutions will only come if First Nations and non-First Nations people have a frank discussion about racism and violence issues.
