The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations will be honouring its “founding fathers” this evening.

A gala celebration with musical guest Buffy Sainte-Marie at Saskatoon’s Prairieland Park will mark the FSIN’s 65th Anniversary celebrations.

In addition to the 11 individuals identified as the federation’s founders, the FSIN will also be honouring all its chiefs who served from 1952 to the present.

The FSIN’s roots date back to 1946, when the Saskatchewan members of the League of Indians of Western Canada, the Protective Association for Indians and their Treaties and the Association of Saskatchewan Indians joined to form the Union of Saskatchewan Indians.

It eventually became known as the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians — or FSI — and in 1982, was re-named the FSIN.

The federation represents 74 First Nations in the province.