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Highway assessment funds for Aboriginal groups
Three groups in the province—the Kineepik Métis Local, the English River First Nation, and the Saskatchewan Environmental Society—were awarded $20,000 collectively for an environmental assessment of a proposed Highway 914 in the north.
The highway is expected to be an all-weather road that would connect Cameco Corp.’s McArthur River mine site to the Cigar Lake mine site.
The assessment will include a comprehensive study process and a review of the subsequent report regarding the road.
AFN voices support for Jordan’s Principle
A call to action for Jordan’s Principle has been made on Feb. 2 by the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs so that First Nations children can be ensured health care services equal to other Canadian children.
“Jordan’s Principle reminds us that no child should be denied health or medical services because of jurisdictional disputes between federal and provincial/territorial governments,” stated AFN National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo.
It has been six years since Jordan River Anderson, 5, of Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba died after spending his whole life in the hospital because provincial and federal governments could not agree who should pay for his home care.
Jordan’s Principle, created in his honor, states that in this kind of dispute the government department that is contacted first must pay the health care expenses of the child, even if it means being reimbursed later by the other government.
Unfortunately, the governments have been slow to implement Jordan’s Principle since they initially agreed to support it along with the Government of Ontario in April 2009.
The chiefs call for its effective and immediate implementation as it is consistent with government obligations set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and many federal, provincial and territorial child-focused statutes.
Muskowekwan referendum postponed
A partnership for potash development at the Muskowekwan First Nation has been recently hailed as a major venture with many profits expected for the community.
But the go-ahead for the joint venture with Encanto Resources Ltd is on hold for now as the band’s chief Reginald Bellerose announced in Jan. that leadership will wait until after the Feb. 28 band election to make the big decision.
“It is essential that the referendum, and the members’ decision, be based upon factual information regarding what’s best for our community and not on political motivation,” said Chief Bellerose. “The proposed development is still in the feasibility stage and there is ample time for member consultation and input.”
A referendum to designate mineral rights on the Treaty Land Entitlement reserve lands was supposed to happen immediately but has been postponed until after elections.
Once the election occurs, the referendum vote on the mineral rights designation, supervised by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, will follow, said a news release.
Numerous information sessions on and off-reserve have already been held regarding the benefits and impacts of the venture with Encanto, Bellerose stated, and open forums will be continue through the month until the election.
Sask health workers to learn from Alaska
A delegation of representatives from Saskatchewan’s health sectors and organizations will travel to Alaska to learn new ways to deliver primary health care through a tour of a Native-owned health care organization called Southcentral Foundation.
Representatives are from a variety of sectors including the Health Quality Council, the Saskatchewan Medical Association, the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association, the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, the Ministry of Health, and various health regions.
“Like us, they serve a vast area, and face challenges in recruiting and retaining providers to deliver care in rural and remote regions, said Health Quality Council Chair Marlene Smadu.
She added that Saskatchewan’s health care system has a lot in common with Southcentral Foundation.
The information gathered from the visit will be used for developments in delivering patient-and-family-centred primary health care in the province to ensure residents receive access to health care in a timely manner.
Métis leader and INAC clash over contract
A Métis leader is not too happy with a recent decision made by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) that could help determine Métis status.
Manitoba Métis Federation President, David Chartrand said he found out in early February that INAC hired the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) to create a plan that would impact the designation of official Métis status. The contract work would focus on the five main affiliate Métis Nations in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan.
INAC’s Office of the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Status Indians tentatively awarded CSA the contract of somewhere between $50,000 to $100,000 to develop a verification strategy for Métis identification systems.
Métis Nation President David Chartrand stated to media that he is furious the responsibility of Métis rights would be determined by the CSA, known for its approval on household products such as light bulbs and microwaves.
“There’s some big things at stake here,” Chartrand said, referring to the rights a Métis person is entitled to such as a share of natural resources and employment.
Meanwhile, INAC Minister John Duncan responded by stating the contract is not to decide who is Métis, it is merely to ensure the registration systems in place in the five Métis provinces are satisfactory.
Minister Duncan told media sources that the CSA contract is meant to help the five different systems to work together and have measurable objectives that can be verified and be consistent with the Powley decision. This will identify a concrete way on who can be considered Métis in proving ancestral ties to the historic homeland.
Chartrand called it a dismantling of work done in the last 23 years by Métis leaders and said he is determined to fight the move, especially since leaders were not informed about the contract.
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