Federal Liberals invest $60M in Sask. Indigenous programs
Initiatives focus on preserving languages, efforts to help keep families together
SASKATOON The Liberal Party wants Indigenous voters in Saskatchewan to know the government is listening.
On Tuesday, the federal government made two announcements that would see almost $60 million flow into Saskatchewan with a focus on Indigenous issues.
The first came on Tuesday morning when the Liberals announced an investment of $2.3 million over two years to “preserve, promote and revitalize” Indigenous languages in Saskatchewan with programming implemented through the Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre.
Later, Minister of Indigenous Services Jane Philpott announced a multi-year $56.2-million partnership with the Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC). The money will be used to create programming that will focus on prevention activities that help keep families together while launching a pilot aimed at gauging its effect.
In both cases, First Nation communities or an organization will be administrating the funds and implementing the programming.
Philpott said she hopes the funding sends a message to Indigenous voters in Saskatchewan: “The messaging behind it is a respect for rights. What happened over the generations in our relationship with Indigenous peoples was that we took control of their lives and we denied their rights,” she said.
“There’s very clear evidence that that’s led to the circumstances we’re facing today: Where there are huge socio-economic gaps that exist where Indigenous peoples face racism and discrimination on a daily basis, and that’s not good for anybody.”
She said the Liberal government’s approach to recognizing those rights is to put control back into the hands of First Nation, Inuit and Metis people.
Mark Arcand, chief of the Saskatoon Tribal Council, which represents seven First Nations around Saskatoon, said while the funding only marks the start of the work that needs to be done, he has faith the Liberal government will hold true on promises for true “nation-to-nation” talks.
“I believe that making this kind of announcement today shows that they respect the inherent treaty rights,” said Arcand, adding later the STC “stands with” Philpott and her government to “really make a difference in First Nations people.”
He said the fact the Liberal party is hosting its caucus retreat in Saskatoon is important, but said it’s not the location that matters, but the engagement that takes place.
“It the engagement piece. It’s the relationship building, it’s the partnership building, that’s the most important thing,” he said.
Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations vice-chief Kim Jonathan said ensuring First Nations have control over how programs are rolled out is “critically important.”
“It shows that they’re listening to our leadership and our community members,” said Jonathan, saying the FSIN feels funding should flow directly to First Nation communities.
Jonathan said the fact the federal government signed a letter of understanding with all seven STC chiefs shows the government is willing to do the necessary work.
“What I’ve witnessed is they see the importance of going directly to individual chiefs and individual tribal councils collectively,” she said. “It seems to me that they’re not interested in seeing what’s easy and going to one entity to fix all, because every different tribal council, every different nation has individual needs.”