Metis Leaders Build Closer Ties With Ministry

Metis Leaders Build Closer Ties With Ministry

Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at 13:49

The Metis Nation – Saskatchewan is calling yesterday’s meeting with First Nations and Metis Relations Minister Bill Hutchinson historic, because it’s the first time any minister holding that portfolio has been to the MN-S headquarters in Saskatoon.

MN-S President Robert Doucette says many issues were discussed at yesterday’s meeting, including education, employment, housing and health, especially with regards to the potential for further spread of the H1N1 flu virus.

Overall, the focus was on building on the MN-S’s good working relationship with the province, Doucette says.

“This is just a further building on our partnership, on how we can address those issues together with the Province of Saskatchewan,” he says.

Hutchinson says his goal is to increase the number of Aboriginal youth who are completing their education and getting jobs in the province.

Both Hutchinson and Doucette anticipate this will be the first of many meetings between the two of them.