In 1945 the Saskatchewan Aboriginal veterans from World War II returned to a rapidly changing world. The economy was improving dramatically as expanding industries encouraged unprecedented consumerism. In addition, new social values reflected an optimism for the elimination of the social inequality epitomized by Nazi Germany. The new social consciousness culminated with the United Nations' Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. In Canada the postwar years saw the federal government begin to investigate Indian policy reforms. In Saskatchewan the postwar years ushered in a new optimism epitomized by a new provincial government. In 1944 the people of the province of Saskatchewan elected the first socialist government in North America, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). The CCF, elected on the slogan "humanity first," began examining the possibility of implementing an Aboriginal policy. The change of economic, social, and political environment in Canada immediately after the war added to the excitement brought on by the ending of hostilities. Saskatchewan Aboriginal veterans' active participation in the immediate postwar changes was minimal.