Current Problems: Government Commitments to Truth and Reconciliation

Exploring Stakeholder: "Government of Saskatchewan"

Updates on this page: 43
 

October 23, 2024


Sask. Indigenous leaders want members to vote; others say they shouldn’t in colonial systems

‘We are of our own sovereign nations and it really doesn’t make any sense to vote’: FNUniv instructor CBC Indigenous: Most Indigenous people in Canada weren’t allowed to vote in provincial and federal elections until 1960, a little over 60 years ago. While many now exercise that right, others choose not to take part in what...

September 30, 2024


Over 30 years of Indigenous resistance with Mohawk land defender Ellen Gabriel

‘Colonial-rooted poverty will not be solved by more colonial solutions’ Ellen Gabriel speaks during a march on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Montreal, Saturday, September 30, 2023. Graham Hughes / The Canadian Press The Narwhal: Thirty-four years ago, Katsi’tsakwas Ellen Gabriel was thrust into the spotlight when she was chosen as the spokesperson for...

September 27, 2024


Reconciliation will take substance, not symbolism: Senator Francis 

NationTalk: When so little has changed in the lives of Indigenous peoples, it is hard to believe that Canada is truly on a path to reconciliation. The legacy of colonialism is not something we can leave behind, but an ongoing reality. It is alive in the structural and systemic inequalities that continue to oppress communities....

August 28, 2024


First Nations leaders demand end to federal, provincial taxation of their people

Leaders in Saskatchewan note the numbered treaties promised tax-free status to First Nations APTN News: First Nations leaders in Saskatchewan are calling on the federal and provincial governments to cease all taxation of First Nations people. They note the numbered treaties exempted First Nations people from taxes. Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Chief Bobby Cameron said...

August 13, 2024


Saskatchewan’s oldest permanent settlement celebrates 250th anniversary

Cumberland House residents share hopes and dreams for their home CBC Indigenous: Philomene Chaboyer says she is proud of her community of Cumberland House and hopes for an even better future as the northern village celebrates its 250th anniversary. Cumberland House is Saskatchewan’s oldest permanent settlement. CBC attended the community’s three-day celebration, which wrapped up Tuesday. For...

July 15, 2024


National Indigenous leaders to meet premiers amid deteriorating relationship

Focus of meeting is health care, but Indigenous leaders plan to raise issue of respect CBC News: Indigenous leaders will attend a meeting with Canada’s premiers on Monday, with health care on the agenda — but also a deteriorating relationship. This is the first time Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed will meet provincial and territorial...

April 19, 2024


UN puts spotlight on attacks against Indigenous land defenders, journalists

Indigenous peoples around the world are harassed and killed at alarming rates. Will the world act? Tear gas is deployed by police during a Maasai rights demonstration outside the Tanzanian High Commission in Nairobi in 2022.  Ben Curtis / AP Photo APTN News: When around 70,000 Indigenous Maasai were expelled from their lands in northern Tanzania in 2022,...

April 18, 2024


Sask. First Nations’ delegates meet with province to discuss commitments to inherent treaty rights

Click on the following link to view the video: https://regina.ctvnews.ca/sask-first-nations-delegates-meet-with-province-to-discuss-commitments-to-inherent-treaty-rights-1.6852331 CTV News: Delegates from several First Nations met at the Saskatchewan Legislative building for a day of action focused on inherent treaty rights Wednesday. Attendees are concerned the provincial government is not properly consulting First Nations on a number of issues such as hunting and...

April 17, 2024


Indigenous leaders continue calls for proper consultation in Saskatchewan

First Peoples Law Report: Global News – Indigenous leadership from a few First Nation communities gathered in solidarity at the Saskatchewan Legislature for the Duty to Consult Day of Action event. On Wednesday, dignitaries expressed their frustrations and concerns about the lack of proper consultation with Indigenous communities in the province. Indigenous leaders from Nekaneet...

April 17, 2024


Métis in Saskatchewan withdraw support for Bill C-53

APTN News: The Métis Nation-Saskatchewan and the Provincial Métis Council say they’re withdrawing their support for Bill C-53 – federal legislation that if passed, will provide recognition of certain Métis governments in Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan. The bill, if passed, also provides a framework for the implementation of treaties entered into by those Métis governments...

March 11, 2024


Painful discrimination still confronts too many Indigenous people: Ken Coates for Inside Policy

Canada has a long way to go before Indigenous peoples can be assured of fairness before the law or consistent acceptance in Canadian society. March 11, 2024 in Ken Coates, Inside Policy, Columns, Latest News, Indigenous Affairs Program, Social issues NationTalk: McDonald-Laurier Institute: Inside Policy – Most Canadians believe that life is getting better for Indigenous peoples in the country and...

March 9, 2024


Brian Mulroney’s complicated relationship with Indigenous peoples in Canada

From laying the foundations of Nunavut to the Oka crisis, the former PM’s legacy was one of contradictions CBC News: The late Brian Mulroney’s legacy with Indigenous peoples in Canada is marked by its contradictions — failures remembered for their good intentions, successes accompanied by catastrophic disappointments.  The former prime minister is praised by some Indigenous leaders for creating a...

February 15, 2024


What does the duty to consult First Nations, Inuit and Métis mean?

And why some advocates say Canada needs to move from consultation to consent CBC Indigenous: You’ve probably heard the phrase duty to consult, or failure to consult, when it comes to governments and their relationships with First Nations, Inuit and Métis.  But what does it actually mean?  Stemming from three Supreme Court of Canada decisions in 2004...

January 1, 2024


Consulting Indigenous communities on critical minerals is key to net zero ambitions

PUBLISHED DECEMBER 31, 2023 UPDATED JANUARY 1, 2024 The Globe and Mail: Two years ago, First Nations leaders made clear what Canada must take to heart if it wants to be a global player in critical minerals and the energy transition: The only road to net zero runs through Indigenous lands. That is, any efforts to develop...

October 12, 2023


A need for action on reconciliation

NationTalk: Winnipeg Free Press – Each year, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation prompts us to take stock of the progress we are making, as a country, on the journey towards reconciliation. Often this progress — or the lack of it — is measured by counting how many of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s...

August 14, 2023


First Nations leaders say Sask. government’s updated consultation policy is still problematic

Minister says the revisions emphasize relationship building, address timelines CBC News: The Saskatchewan government released a revised First Nation and Métis consultation policy framework on Friday. It’s the first time changes have been made to the Consultation Policy Framework (CPF) in 13 years — and some Indigenous leaders say the changes don’t go far enough. “They’re doing...

July 19, 2023


First Nations sick of Sask. government’s ‘trinkets and beads’ approach to resource development: Opposition

Critical mineral claims to hundreds of square kilometres recently granted without First Nations consultation Indigenous people will no longer tolerate the Saskatchewan government’s “trinkets and beads” approach to natural resource development, says the Opposition critic on the file. “First Nations and Métis people are tired of trinkets and beads. They’re tired of getting crumbs. They...

July 13, 2023


First Nations won’t be excluded from critical minerals ‘gold rush,’ say leaders

Sask. chief delivering message Friday in Washington to senior White House, corporate officials CBC News: Some are calling it Saskatchewan’s third “gold rush” — the frenzy to stake claims for lithium and other critical minerals. First Nations say they were pushed to the sidelines during previous waves of development and that won’t happen again. They’re set to deliver that...

July 6, 2023


Saskatchewan refuses to negotiate a deal over Ile-a-la Crosse residential school settlement say feds

The federal government says it’s willing to sit and negotiate a settlement with survivors of the Ile-a-la-Crosse residential school but it needs the province of Saskatchewan at the table to make a deal happen. “The Government of Canada is willing to step up to the plate and settle its portion of the liability with survivors...

July 6, 2023


National Inuit leader skipping premiers’ meeting over matter of respect

Natan Obed says relationship with premiers still a ‘long ways away’ from one needed for true reconciliation CBC News: The leader of the national organization representing Inuit turned down an invitation to meet with Canada’s premiers next week over the inclusion of non-rights-holding Indigenous groups. Natan Obed, president of the Inuit Tapirit Kanatami (ITK), told...

April 11, 2023


Western premiers blast Lametti for suggesting Ottawa might ‘look at’ provinces’ power over natural resources

Lametti told an AFN meeting he would examine calls to rescind Natural Resources Transfer Act CBC News: Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and three western premiers are calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to disassociate his government from comments made by his justice minister — who promised last week to “look at” a decades-old law that...

March 30, 2023


First Nations lay claim to all critical minerals and rare earth elements in Saskatchewan

Province’s new critical mineral strategy infringes on Inherent and Treaty rights: FSIN CBC News: First Nations are laying claim to all critical minerals and rare earth elements in Saskatchewan in light of the province announcing its new critical mineral strategy on Monday. Saskatchewan has 23 of 31 critical minerals on the Canadian Critical Minerals List....

March 23, 2023


FSIN condemns Sask gov’t funding reduction for First Nations

The provincial government aims to increase potash sales and raise oil production by 2030 NationTalk: SASKTODAY – Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Chief Bobby Cameron has criticized the provincial government for reducing funding to First Nations by almost nine per cent. Cameron stated that Saskatchewan’s economy primarily relies on natural resources from their ancestral lands...

March 22, 2023


Court of Appeal Rejects Saskatchewan’s “Misconceived” Legal Attack Against Métis Nation–Saskatchewan

NationTalk: Métis Nation–Saskatchewan (MN–S) welcomes the decision announced by the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal, which soundly rejected the provincial government’s inappropriate attempt to prevent MN–S from advancing issues of Métis title and Métis commercial harvesting rights in its litigation against the Province. The matter arose in the fall of 2021, when MN–S asked the courts...

March 18, 2023


Indigenous groups signal upcoming legal battle over Sask. First Act

FSIN vows to mount legal challenge to Sask. First Act CBC News: The Saskatchewan First Act was borne out of meetings and consultations, but its a lack of consultation with Indigenous communities that has the act destined for a courtroom. On Thursday, Saskatchewan Party government members voted unanimously to pass the act, known as Bill 88....

March 16, 2023


Sask. First Act passes in front of gallery full of First Nations and Métis people opposed to bill

Indigenous leaders say Bill 88 infringes on treaty rights CBC News: Saskatchewan’s governing party voted unanimously to pass the Saskatchewan First Act on Thursday in front of a gallery full of First Nations and Métis community members who travelled to the legislature in opposition of the bill. Last fall, the government introduced Bill 88, saying it would...

January 27, 2023


SCO Urges Prime Minister to Include First Nations Leaders in Health Meeting

NationTalk: ANISHINAABE AND DAKOTA TERRITORY, MB — Today, the Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) is calling on Prime Minister Trudeau and the Government of Canada to ensure that First Nations leaders are included in health discussions on February 7, 2023. “Health care systems are in crisis. They are not meeting the needs of First Nations people, and...

January 19, 2023


Dealing with Sask. First Act one of treaty commissioner’s top priorities for 2023

Treaty Commissioner Mary Culbertson says bill offends inherent and treaty rights Jennifer Francis · CBC News · Posted: Jan 11, 2023 4:00 AM EST | Last Updated: January 19 CBC News: Last year, Treaty Commissioner of Saskatchewan Mary Culbertson was critical of the proposed Saskatchewan First Act and now, in 2023, she is questioning the basis, accuracy and respect of treaty...

December 21, 2022


By ignoring the duty to consult First Nations, three Canadian premiers show their true colours

The Globe and Mail: TANYA TALAGA SPECIAL TO THE GLOBE AND MAIL Sacred law binds Anishinabeg to safeguard the land, water, four-legged creatures and each other. It is our duty to make sure the planet is protected for future generations. There are 634 First Nations throughout the country we now call Canada, including 133 here...

December 15, 2022


At this rate, Canada won’t meet Truth and Reconciliation calls until 2065, report suggests

Seven years after the TRC released its final report, Canada has much work to do, Yellowhead Institute says. The Toronto Star: Canada has completed only 13 of 94 calls to action outlined by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, seven years after its final report, a new update shows. “Survivors (of residential schools) are ageing, and many...

November 2, 2022


First Nations leaders push back against ‘Saskatchewan First Act’ tabled by government

First Nations leaders unhappy with Legislation and lack of consultation. First Peoples Law Report: APTN News – The Saskatchewan government has tabled its controversial Saskatchewan First Act, in spite of push-back from the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, the Saskatchewan Treaty Commissioner and the opposition NDP. The government had unveiled the policy in October which...

October 27, 2022


Saskatchewan Office of the Treaty Commissioner says throne speech offends treaty rights

The Office of the Treaty Commissioner of Saskatchewan responded to the 2022 throne speech on Thursday, saying its contents do not work for everyone and offends the treaty and inherent rights of Indigenous people. “While the Office of the Treaty Commissioner welcomes programs and initiatives with Indigenous communities on health, education, and community policing among others, there remains an...

November 21, 2021


25th Anniversay of the RCAP Final Report

Prime Minister’s Office – “25th anniversary of the final report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples”. The five-volume landmark document outlined 440 recommendations on Indigenous governance, nation rebuilding, lands and resources, treaties, economic development, and social policy, and called for the renewal of the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and all orders of...

September 14, 2021


Native Women’s Association of Canada Political Party Report Card

NDP Liberal Green Conservative Bloc Québecois A B B D D Rights of Indigenous Women & MMIWG2S 4 5 5 2 1 Self Determination & Decision-Making 5 5 5 4 5 Reconciliation & residential Schools 5 3 4 3 3 Environment & Climate Change 5 4 4 1 1 Clean Drinking Water & Public Services...

September 14, 2021


Native Women’s Association of Canada Political Party Report Card

Native Women’s Association of Canada – NWAC commissioned Nanos Research to compare the parties’ platforms with the 11 policy issues NWAC determined to be of primary importance. Those policy issues include: human rights self-determination reconciliation environment clean water housing child welfare justice and policing employment and economic development, and health care. The result is a...

June 15, 2021


AFN/Canada Race Race Relations Foundation poll

Assembly of First Nations – Thirteen years after the Government of Canada offered a formal apology to the survivors of the residential school system and families, 68 percent of Canadians polled still say they were either unaware of the severity of abuses at residential schools or completely shocked by it. A poll conducted by the...

December 15, 2020


TRC Commissioners comments about pace of Reconciliation

APTN – The three commissioners of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Senator Murray Sinclair, Chief Wilton Littlechild, and Dr. Marie Wilson, are issuing a public statement expressing their concern about the slow and uneven pace of implementation of the Calls to Action released by the TRC five years ago today… While they acknowledge important and...

January 7, 2020


8 Ways to champion Human Rights

Toronto Star – Toronto Star identified eight ways that Canada can champion human rights in the 2020s, including the following: First step is to adopt overdue legislation making the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Canada’s framework for rights and reconciliation. And to show we truly mean it: address mercury poisoning at...

July 11, 2019


The Council of The Federation, bi-annual meetings of the Federal, Provincial and Territory Premiers

Refusal to allow leaders of the Assembly of First Nations, the Métis National Council, the Inuit Tapariit Kanatami and the Native Woman’s Association of Canada to participate in the main body of meetings with a primary focus on climate change within each jurisdiction. As has been noted by numerous media, Indigenous peoples are on the...

July 9, 2019


Towards Justice: Tackling Indigenous Child Poverty in Canada

Upstream – Failure to reduce the level of poverty among Indigenous children. Tracking Indigenous child poverty and non-Indigenous child poverty trends between Census 2006 and Census 2016, it’s clear that these differences have not markedly changed over that 10-year period. “Towards Justice: Tackling Indigenous Child Poverty in Canada” co-authored by the Assembly of First Nations...

February 16, 2018


Native Women’s Association of Canada

Collectively, NWAC represents a multitude of Nations of Indigenous women who are First Nations, Métis, Inuit. These women represent non-status women and girls and rights holders with Treaty rights, inherent rights, Métis rights, human rights and gender-based rights. As a representative of Indigenous women, NWAC will provide the required gender-based perspective. In order to achieve...

July 20, 2017


NWAC excluded from Council of the Federation discussions

Native Woman’s Association of Canada requested the Council of Federation to include NWAC in all Nation-to-Nation discussions, the work of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (National Inquiry) in the scope of improving the socio-economic status of Indigenous women, and the need for a community-based prevention model to drive the...

July 17, 2017


Indigenous leaders boycott Council of Federation meetings

National Chief Perry Bellegarde, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) President Natan Obed and President Clément Chartier of the Métis Nation of Canada (MNC) held a press conference today in a show of unity over their concerns regarding the full and effective participation of Indigenous peoples in intergovernmental forums, including the Council of the Federation meeting taking...