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| Tony Stevenson |
So, you can imagine my excitement and my disbelief when I was told by the organizers that I would be sitting with him in a breakout room one hour before the press conference. I had a hard time sleeping the night before because of the questions I was going to ask and what I was going to say. When I finally did meet him that morning my first words were, “It's an honour to meet you and I had a hell of a time trying to fall asleep last night because I was thinking of the right words to say to you. To make things worse, the sports channel replayed Canada versus Russia at one a.m. last night and I watched the whole game!”
We sat down and he asked me about the work that I was doing. I told him that I was assisting former residential school students and elders on the court process for physical and sexual abuse. I also told him that I had been working on a private prosecution since 1994.
The crown prosecutor of Saskatchewan had denied my initial accusation as he felt there was not enough evidence and victims. I also told Dryden that the justice system in general is a two-tiered mechanism that is only beneficial to the rich and harmful to First Nations people. (In August 2023, after years of being a national spokesperson for residential school victims, former First Nations Chief Ted Quewezance was charged with sexual abuse crimes against a minor.)
The class action was supposed to be a stepping stone to rebuilding our country’s relationship with the First Nations people. At that point, it seemed to have done the opposite, as the majority are upset for bringing up the hateful past. Not much has changed in reconciliation.
This is a reality that many of our First Nations face today. The education of prevention and deterrence needs to be taught in our own communities as well because they do not trust the justice system. Reconciliation includes everyone who claims to be Canadian and not just for one day of the year.
As many of you know, Dryden is a lawyer, and it was very easy to have a conversation with him because he understood what I was saying. At that time, I told him that I want to go into prosecutions as a career.
But my first case was in defence: acting as an agent, I beat a parking ticket charge for a family friend. Coincidentally, the first case that he ever won was a parking ticket as well. We seemed to hit it off and I felt it was a good time to ask him to personalize the rookie card that I had of him.
He was quite happy to do so and he also told me how to tell if the card is original or fake. The original hockey cards have his hometown listed as Islington, Ont. (You can imagine the relief I felt when he confirmed my rookie card was real because I spent 400 bucks the week before, buying it. I still have it.)
I told him I would get him a gift that was something special and symbolic of my people, with the understanding that he’d help me get the education and awareness to the rest of the country of our First Nations legacy; namely, to battle racism. I gifted him an eagle feather, a braid of sweet grass and my hockey jersey. When I asked for the eagle feather and sweet grass from the person(s) who had them, they advised me to do right with these gifts, as it is against protocol to do otherwise.
I felt that his influence would certainly help with the much-needed reconciliation.
During a follow-up visit to Toronto, I saw Dryden at another event and at that time the Maple Leafs were looking for a coach. I had mentioned that over the years I was in touch with the best coach in the world, Ted Nolan. I said that Nolan is at home and I can tell you he is more than capable of helping Canada’s team.
I never heard from Dryden again after that meeting. I was disappointed but I understand that individuals who are considered icons must have boundaries to protect what they do.
Over the years, I have met several non-First Nations people who do not have that iconic status and, without hesitation, ask me, “How can I help?” These people are my heroes; Patty Schweighardt, Trevor Boquist, Maureen Driedger, Justice Kenneth Bellerose, to name a few. They want to see reconciliation in Canada. Education must be an ongoing effort.
But otherwise, the topic of residential schools seems to be only mentioned once a year now.
By the way, Dryden, can you please send me back the gift I sent you? My address is on my website.
Tony Stevenson is a member of the Anishnabec First Nation in the Treaty 4 Area in Saskatchewan who attended the Qu’Appelle Indian Residential School in Lebret, Sask. He worked extensively with the independent assessment process, preparing and representing peers and elders for compensation hearings. He was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and recognized by both the Saskatchewan and Regina chambers of commerce for creating a cross-culture work project at the Conexus Credit Union. He travels to schools, universities, businesses and labour organizations to give presentations on truth and reconciliation. Learn more at MJ’s Ole Skool Crew.
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