Trudeau fields tough questions from Saskatoon students
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took a grilling from students at a Saskatoon high school — and came away with a sweet new guitar.
In a visit to Oskayak High School, the prime minister toured a workshop where students design and build custom guitars. It’s part of a class that teaches both the hands-on side of guitar-building, as well as business skills around marketing and selling the instruments.
Following the tour, Trudeau gave a speech in the school gym before taking three questions from reporters.
From there, he opened up the floor to students, telling them their input would help him do his job, both as prime minister and minister for youth.
Oskayak is an indigenous high school, and students’ questions centered mainly on aboriginal issues.
The students erupted into applause after one grade 12 student, Tahris Bear, read a pointed question she’d written for Trudeau about the state of aboriginal communities:
“There have been a total of 23 elected prime ministers in Canada. Treaty 6 was signed Aug. 23, 1876 at Fort Carlton Saskatchewan. How do you intend to honour the promises your ancestors made with mine, exactly written in all the signed treaties across Canada, to make up and pay for the acts of genocide our ancestors were subject to long before and after the signing of Treaty 6?
And how do you, Justin, with all your politicians and representatives, plan to right the wrongs? The past 22 elected prime ministers have failed.
My ancestors helped you once in your time of need when they first came to this land, now Canada. Are we not considered Canadians as well? If we are, why do you allow the first people of this land to endure and live in Third World conditions?” she asked.