The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations says it wants the Sask. government to relinquish control of Indigenous child welfare.
Chief Bobby Cameron is calling on the federal government to remove provincial jurisdiction from draft legislation, before it is tabled in Parliament.
“We’re looking for some of the sections to be removed, where it talks about provincial jurisdiction being handed over to the province,” Cameron said.
Cameron says he has spoken with Indigenous Services Minister Seamus O’Regan while in Saskatchewan this week, stressing that the federal legislation needs to be introduced by next week, in order for the Bill to be passed before the summer break and fall election.
Cameron says he was assured by O’Regan the Act would be tabled shortly.
“Give us back our kids,” FSIN Vice-Chief Pratt explained. “We’ve got to have kids to be able to carry on the language. If we don’t have our kids, how will they carry that one?”
Pratt equates the current child welfare system as the modern residential school, in which children are losing their culture.
Premier Scott Moe admits he has recently discussed child welfare with the FSIN and AFN, but says the government remains committed to building capacity in foster care recruitment to ensure that children who need care go to people of significant interest, appearing not to want to give into the demands of First Nations leaders.
With files from Fraser Needham
(FSIN Chief Booby Cameron, right and Vice-Chief David Pratt, left. By Fraser Needham.)