Indigenous leaders call for meaningful Duty to Consult during day of action

REGINA - Today, Official Opposition Critic for First Nations and Métis Relations Betty Nippi-Albright hosted a Day of Action with Indigenous leaders from Nekaneet First Nation, Yellow Quill First Nation, Waterhen Lake First Nation, Onion Lake Cree Nation, Carry The Kettle First Nation, Key First Nation and the residential school support team from Yorkton Tribal Council. Together, they continue to draw attention to the Sask. Party government’s disregard for the Duty to Consult process.

“Indigenous peoples in this province are done with the trinkets and beads. They’re done with being ignored. They’re done with the empty platitudes and lip service. It’s time that they are engaged as true partners. It’s time for a meaningful Duty to Consult process,” said Nippi-Albright. “Consultation should not just be a box to be checked. This is about respect.”

Last year, the Sask. Party rolled out a new Duty to Consult framework without meaningfully engaging First Nations and Métis communities. Only 31% of First Nations and only 38% of Métis locals were consulted on the framework.

At the Legislature, Indigenous leaders expressed concerns that the Sask. Party government’s ‘consultation’ was not a meaningful two-way conversation. It relied heavily on email or online surveys, as opposed to respectfully consulting with Inherent and Treaty Rights Holders in their own communities.

“Indigenous people would not be driving all the way to Regina to have their voices heard if they had experienced meaningful two-way dialogue with this government,” said Nippi-Albright. “Indigenous people are done being ignored by this Sask. Party government.”

MLA Nippi-Albright has twice attempted to codify the government’s Duty to Consult obligations into law with private member’s bills. If the Sask. Party had not voted down her legislation, Indigenous communities would, by law, have had a say in how consultation occurs and with whom it would occur.

-30-

Latest posts

KEVIN WEEDMARK REFUNDS TAXPAYERS FOR JOURNALISM GRANT HIS PAPER RECEIVED

KEVIN WEEDMARK REFUNDS TAXPAYERS FOR JOURNALISM GRANT HIS PAPER RECEIVED The Moosomin-Montmartre MLA Continues Hiding From Media As Questions Grow

REGINA – Today, more questions about embattled MLA Kevin Weedmark have been raised following the release of an article from Grasslands News about his privately owned and operated newspaper, The World Spectator.

BRIGHTON RESIDENTS LEFT IN THE DARK: CARLA BECK'S TEAM CALLS OUT MLA KEN CHEVELDAYOFF OVER PHANTOM SCHOOLS

SASKATOON— Carla Beck's team, joined by local Brighton resident Dr. Sarah Chomicki, is calling on Scott Moe to fulfill his government's broken promises and immediately get to work on a neighborhood school for the rapidly growing community of Brighton.

NEW DATA SHOWS THAT SASKATCHEWAN HAS THE HIGHEST CHILD FOOD BANK USAGE IN CANADA

Beck Commits To School Nutrition Program, Doing All She Can To End Child Poverty
REGINA – Carla Beck’s team is sounding the alarms on new data showing more children in Saskatchewan are forced to rely on the food bank than anywhere else in Canada.

CARLA BECK GOVERNMENT WOULD RESTORE DIRECT-TO-LANDLORD RENT PAYMENTS AS MOOSE JAW FACES RISING HOMELESSNESS

More Affordable Housing, Rent Control Also Part Of Plan Being Developed By Beck’s Team
MOOSE JAW – Carla Beck’s team is in Moose Jaw today committing that, should they form the next provincial government, her team will restore direct-to-landlord rent payments for Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS) and Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) clients.

NDP Caucus Office