Framework for cooperation unveiled by province

Page 6

A new framework is in place in Saskatchewan, designed to ensure that Metis and off-reserve First Nations people are involved in design and delivery of programs provided for them by the provincial government.

A Framework for Cooperation, announced by Premier Roy Romanow on Jan. 18, outlines four key areas the provincial government plans to focus on to improve economic and social conditions for Metis and off-reserve First Nations people. Those four areas are education, skills training and work preparation, jobs and economic development opportunities, and community initiatives to improve individual and community well-being.

According to Mary Tkach with Saskatchewan Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs, work to develop the framework began in 1997 as a way to provide government with a guide for uniform and unified provision of programs and services for First Nations people.

?There was a realization that government may have been doing a lot of things in terms of programs and services for our Aboriginal people, but we had no broad direction for what we were doing, and therefore everything seemed to be ad hoc and piecemeal, and just not connected in any way that would make a difference for them,? Tkach explained.

?And so, on that basis, (cabinet) directed us to go forward and put together some sort of a strategy and vision, goals and principles, that would guide government generally, in terms of how we?d work with Aboriginal people, and Metis and off-reserve First Nations in particular.?

Once an initial framework was drafted, a lengthy consultation process followed.

?We started with the Aboriginal political leaders, went on to the regional governments, went on to the local governments, worked with groups like the Saskatchewan School Trustees Association, the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation, post-secondary institutions, and then went to seven communities in Saskatchewan, just to get everybody?s feedback about the framework,? Tkach said.