A room full of people at the first ever SFNSA safety conference in Saskatoon. Photo by Joel Willick.
The Saskatchewan First Nation Safety Association held its first conference in Saskatoon on Thursday as a new organization.
The SFNSA was originally founded this past summer after CEO Toby Desnomie says he saw a gap in safety services for First Nations.
“Without going into the government side of things too much, there is a cause and effect of not having occupation health and safety in our communities, and we are just starting to address that,” says Desnomie.
The conference will explore several ideas around safe workplaces, including awareness, risk assessment, documentation and liability.
Desnomie says the SFNSA is beginning a five-phase approach to their operation, with the first phase to raise safety awareness in First Nation communities. He says the conference is a beginning step in that process.
“So, we are going to come out to communities and find out what their needs are,” says Desnomie. “I can assume anything, but we need to sit down with community members to build a strategy for community safety.”
Desnomie says they have plans to hold this conference annually.
The organization recently signed a partnership with the FSIN, with both sides committing to better safety for First Nation communities.