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

NEWCOMERS AND YOUNG PEOPLE STAND AGAINST SASK. PARTY’S ATTEMPT TO RESTRICT DEMOCRACY

SASKATOON – Dozens of new Saskatchewan residents and young people joined the Saskatchewan NDP today to call out a Sask. Party proposal that would strip them of their voice in the political process.

SASK. PARTY AGRICULTURE MINISTER FAILS TO DO JOB, RESORTS TO THREATS IN FOREIGN FARMLAND DEBATE

Provincial Auditor Found Proper Ownership Declarations Only Gathered In 50 Per cent Of Transactions Where The Very Limited Policy Required Them

REGINA – The Sask. Party Agriculture Minister has dismissed widespread concerns about foreign farmland ownership and instead resorted to threats to silence concerns of producers about the shoddy process for transactions.

SASK. NDP HONOURS FIRST INDIGENOUS WOMAN TO RECEIVE UN AWARD

REGINA – Today, the Saskatchewan NDP held a reception at the legislature to honour Brenda Reynolds, a status treaty member of the Fishing Lake Saulteaux First Nation. Reynolds is the first Indigenous person and first Canadian to receive the UN Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize which is awarded to two recipients every five years.

SASKATCHEWAN NDP SUPPORTS SARM’S CALL FOR URGENTLY NEEDED LONG-TERM DROUGHT SUPPORT

Meetings In July, Letter In September ... And Still Producers Left In the Lurch

REGINA – As rural municipalities continue to gather in the province’s capital, the Saskatchewan NDP is backing their collective call for long-term drought support for producers as some areas have experienced severe conditions for nine years and counting. The Saskatchewan NDP have been calling for emergency drought measures and long-term fixes together with drought devastated RMs and producers throughout this summer and fall.