FSIN supports standing committee report

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The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) is putting its support behind a report of the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs regarding Bill C-7, the proposed new Youth Criminal Justice act. If passed, the bill would replace the Young Offenders Act, which has been in effect since 1982.

"The First Nations of Saskatchewan encourage the Senate to adopt the report of the Senate Committee," FSIN Vice Chief Lawrence Joseph said in a statement issued Nov. 19. "We look forward to our involvement in the implementation of the proposed changes and to our full participation in the forthcoming review of this legislation."

The report of the standing Senate committee, released on Nov. 8, was presented to the Senate on Nov. 20. The bill was scheduled for third reading following that presentation but, at press time, the bill was still being debated.

"We've been involved in this for a while already. Since 1996, actually, when the proposed amendments were called. Way, way back," Joseph explained during an interview about Bill C-7.

"October 1996 is when we started involvement, presenting before the Commons Committee on Constitutional Issues. We became involved at that time. It was a draft legislation. And February of '98 we responded again, with strong recommendations for its amendments. As recent as Oct. 23 of this year, we again appeared before the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee to present our First Nations position. And I think we're generally pleased with the hearing that we got and the response that we got from the Senate committee."

A number of the positions voiced by the FSIN were well received by the Senate committee, Joseph said, including taking existing Criminal Code provisions that apply to adult Aboriginal offenders and extending them to youth offenders.

"Under 718.2 E of the Criminal Code, essentially what it calls for is that before you lock up Indians or Aboriginal people, you look at all other options. That's not there for the young people. What we called for is if it's there for the older guys, well, let's make sure First Nations youth are also given that right," Joseph said.

"The other thing of course is the contentious issue of lowering the age to 14 from 16. Our contention is that we should keep that in place at 16 rather than 14," he added.

"The other big thing also is the protection of kids if they have to be sentenced to an adult institution. They should be segregated, for their own protection. And the Senate was quite receptive to that...

"And the fourth item that they were prepared to do was to recommend that the legislation be reviewed in five years, and that review committee include representation from Aboriginal communities. This recognizes the First Nations by legislation. They were quite receptive to that."

Funding announced for community projects

Thirty-three community projects across Saskatchewan will be sharing in more than $1 million in funding coming from the National Strategy on Community Safety and Crime Prevention, under it's Community Mobilization Program.

The funding, announced jointly by the federal and provincial governments on Nov. 13, will be used for projects aimed at promoting safety and preventing crime. The majority of the projects being funded are within Aboriginal communities-one of the areas of priority identified under the national strategy.

"Promoting safety and preventing crime are priorities for the people of Saskatchewan and the government of Canada. The projects announced today are examples of how the people of Saskatchewan possess both the leadership and vision that is required to promote safer and stronger communities," said Minister of Natural Resources Ralph Goodale.

Among the projects receiving funding will be the Aboriginal Youth Leadership Program at Saskatchewan Indian Federated College for its Capacity Building for Youth Workers in Regina Project; the All Nations Hope AIDS Network for its A Place of Begnnings project; Cumberland House Cree Nation for its Crime Prevention Project; and the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) Health and Social Secretariat for its Gang Awareness Gathering project.

The Fond du Lac Denesuline First Nation will receive funding for its Crime Prevention Project, while Kahkewistahaw First Nation will receive money for its Preventing Victimization and Violence: Kahkewistahaw Community Mobilization Program.

Funding will also be received by Little Pine First Nation for its Youth Development Project; the Marieval Enterprise Centre Inc. for its Youth Community in Motion Project, and by the Metis Heritage: Melfort District Corporation for its Iskwew/Iskwewis project.

Mistawasis First Nation will also receive funding for its Youth Crime Prevention Initiative, while Montreal Lake Cree Nation will get funding for its Crime Prevention Project.

Moosomin First Nation will receive funds for its Community Crime Prevention Project, while several projects coordinated under the New North Saskatchewan Association of Northern Communities Justice Committee have also been earmarked for funds.

Piapot First Nation will receive funds for its project, Meyo-Tha-Mesowin: Piapot Community Mobilization to Prevent Youth Crime, while the Prince Albert Grand Council will receive funds for its Empowering Communities Justice Unit Crime Prevention Project.