Saskatchewan minister says she’s committed to resuming talks with tribal council

REGINA – Saskatchewan’s social services minister says the province is committed to resuming discussions with the Saskatoon Tribal Council over the contentious issue of children in care on its member reserves.

Donna Harpauer says her department will also be in touch with those First Nations in the coming days to gain access to files that were being withheld.

Earlier this week, Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Lian Schwann at least temporarily settled a power struggle between the two parties by ordering the council to provide documents being sought by the province.

Under past delegation agreements, First Nations agencies were required to monitor and track children in care on reserve and report back to the Ministry of Social Services.

The province says despite that, it has the ultimate responsibility for the children and complained the tribal council wasn’t sharing basic information such as how many children are in care or their names.

Chief Felix Thomas had countered the First Nations are independent and responsible for the protection and well-being of their children, adding the province should ask for rather than demand the reports.

After Schwann’s ruling, Thomas said the council would comply with the court order and make the documents available.

Council lawyer Josephine de Whytell also said the hope was that talks could resume quickly, noting that in her ruling Schwann was critical of the province for its handling of the matter and said the council deserves respect.

Schwann also said the injunction she was granting to the province would expire at the end of September.

All parties have said their first concern is with the children.

“Our goal remains to ensure consistency between child welfare services provided by our First Nations agencies on reserve and those provided by the Ministry of Social Services,” said Harpauer.