FSIN Executive Communique November 22, 2011

Matrimonial Real Property
The Proceedings of the Standing Committee on Human Rights (MRP) will be commencing on Monday, November 21, 2011. The Standing Committee has denied Chief Day Walker Pelletier to appear as witness status on behalf of the Saskatchewan First Nation Women's Commission. A letter will be drafted from the Chief to the Senate objecting their decision to deny the Women's Commission to their hearing as this is not only a Women's issue, it is going to have an impact on all our First Nation communities in regards to housing, land and residency.
First Nation communities are encouraged to establish their own Matrimonial Real Property Laws referring to the United Nations Declaration. The bill contravenes the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as it will be a significant interference, both governmental and judicial, with First Nation matters and inherent rights to self-government. The provisional rules will cause significant interference, both governmental and judicial, with First Nation affairs and inherent rights to self-government, controlling their own housing stock, administering their housing policy and the use of reserve lands. This work needs to be done quickly because Ottawa wants to pass this legislation before year end. Dr. Sharon Venne has been contracted by the SFNWC to assist in developing the MRP framework and templates.

Lands & Resources
First Nations Reject Provincial Jurisdiction
On October 9, 2001, Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management (SERM) officials provided the Lands and Resources Commission with a presentation, for informational purposes only, on its draft protocol entitled, "Entry by Conservation Officers on First Nations Lands Enforcement Protocol" whereby Conservation Officers could enter onto First Nations land with prior Chief and Council knowledge of such entrance.
SERM's Enforcement Protocol states that the FSIN Lands and Resources Commission accepted in principle the protocol in October 2001, which never occurred. The FSIN Lands and Resources Commission hereby disputes that they accepted in-principle the terms of SERM's Enforcement Protocol entitled "Entry by Conservation Officers on First Nations Lands" as SERM indicated.
The FSIN Chiefs-in-Assembly passed Resolution #1723, entitled "Non-recognition of Ministry of Environment's Enforcement Protocol – Entry by Conservation Officer's on First Nations Lands" which recommends that First Nations in Saskatchewan adopt Band Council Resolutions rejecting provincial jurisdiction and renounce the Ministry of Environment's (MoE) Enforcement Protocol on First Nations Lands and waterways and support a province-wide ban of MoE Conservation Officers' entry on respective First Nations' lands and waterways.

First Nations Citizenship

The National Forum on First Nation Citizenship was held this past week at Enoch, Alberta. The Citizenship Forum's focus was on Our People, Our Nations, and Planning our future. A Guide for developing First Nation Citizenship Laws was circulated by AFN on "Facilitating Community Dialogue on First Nation Citizenship". Also, one of highlights of the Forum was Senator, Lillian Dyck, she was instrumental in providing a way forward for First Nation jurisdictions and how Parliament can support First Nations interests as well as how Parliamentary processes can support First Nation to achieve self-government. The Women's Commission look forward to further dialogue with the Treaty Commission Office as well as Senator, Lillian Dyck.

INAC Quarterly Meeting
Three priority items from the Lands and Resources portfolio were presented to INAC during the quarterly meeting on November 15, 2011. These included the work to be undertaken through the Permanent Forum on Reconciliation of Lands and Resources, Water Protection including new proposed federal water legislation and the provincial water management strategy and lastly, funding for work in areas such as consultation and accommodation, shared territories, and sacred sites.

Specific Claims
Specific Claims staff met with several First Nations regarding their individual claims. Sakimay, Mistawasis, and Ahtahkakoop held TLE negotiation meetings this week with FSIN chairing, facilitating and providing technical advice. Vice Chief Cameron attended the Mistawasis and Ahtahkakoop negotiations. FSIN Specific Claims staff met with Kahkewistahaw, Peepeekisis, Kinistin and the fourteen First Nations involved in the annuities claims resulting from the 1885 North West Rebellion. They will also be meeting on Friday with Montreal Lake and Lac La Ronge regarding their claims.
TLE
The Lands & Resources Secretariat will be hosting a Reserve Creation Workshop for the Treaty Land Entitlement and Specific Claim First Nations at the Radisson Hotel in Saskatoon on December 7 & 8, 2011. The agenda and registration forms for the workshop have been sent to all 74 Saskatchewan First Nations.

The workshop will present information to the First Nations on the policies of the provincial and federal governments on the implementation issues regarding "Third-party Interests"; provincial Crown land acquisitions; provincial Crown minerals acquisition; researching and mapping for land acquisition purposes; reserve land designations; industry relations; effective negotiations and accessing economic development funding from the federal government. The presentations and discussions at the workshop will also explore possible solutions to these issues.

The participants delivering the information include representatives from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) and from the provincial government's First Nations & Metis Relations (FNMR) and other provincial agencies.

Justice Commission & Chiefs Signatory to the Community Tripartite Agreement

On November 15th, the Indian Justice Commission and the Chiefs signatory to the First Nation Policing Agreements met to discuss the First Nation Policing Statement of Claim progress, the Intergovernmental Policing meeting scheduled for November 17th, the Chiefs Political Task Force on Child Welfare, the Echo Valley Youth Center proposal, the proposed amendments to The Correctional Services Act and the developmental structure of the Special Investigations Unit.

Upon extensive consultation, motions were passed on the direction legal counsel would proceed with the CTA Framework and negotiation process, support for the transfer of the Echo Valley Youth Center to the File Hills Tribal Council, and political support for the Child Welfare agenda.

First Nations Policing Framework Agreement - Update

The Intergovernmental Policing Table met on November 17th with Canada, Saskatchewan, RCMP, Beardy's & Okemasis and FSIN in attendance. After a thorough discussion on the Statement of Claim and it implications, it is expected that the next step in the litigation process will be achieved by mid-December 2011.

Meeting With Saskatoon Chief of Police, Clive Weighill

Vice Chief Cameron met with Police Chief Clive Weighill to reinvigorate the working relationship between the Saskatchewan Chiefs of Police and FSIN. Items discussed at the meeting were: the Action Accord signed in Saskatoon among the Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners, Saskatoon Health Region, Saskatoon Police Service, Saskatoon Tribal Council and FSIN; and ways to advance the accord.

The Saskatoon Police Service will host the next Chiefs of Police meeting in February 2012.

Health & Social Development

Import Notice: The Common Experience Payment application deadline has passed. Late applications will be accepted until September 19, 2012 in cases of disability, undue hardship and exceptional circumstances and must include a written reason for the delay of application. For more information, a survivor or an executor may contact me and I will assist or call the CEP line at 1-866-699-1742 (TTY: 1-800-926-9105) or visit the closest Service Canada Centre in their area.

IAP Deadline: September 19, 2012

Indian Residential School information, updates and deadlines were delivered to the First Nations and Metis living in Saskatoon, at the Indian and Metis Friendship Centre. The attendance was small but we continued to deliver all the information that needed to be shared. There were not only survivors but as well honoured with a surprise visit from Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner Justice Murray Sinclair and representatives from the Churches.

TRC first planning meeting in regards to the Saskatchewan National event commenced on November 15, 2011. There were many dignitaries, stakeholders and other team members in attendance to begin the process. Jaye Cameron was named the Co-Chairperson for the National Event Regional Working Group and will ensure that FSIN seeks the best interest of the Indian Residential School Survivors for this event.

Yorkton Tribal Council hosted IRS gatherings in Whitebear First Nation, Pheasant Rump First Nation and in Cowessess First Nation. FSIN did not attend the one in Whitebear due to weather and road hazards. Pheasant Rump and Cowessess gatherings were well attended.

Indian Residential School gathering will be held in Fond Du Lac, for Black Lake and Wallaston Lake on the tentative date of November 25, 2011.
Canadian Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Conference
FSIN Staff participated at the national annual Canadian Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Conference from November 16- 18, 2011 at the Westin Bayshore Hotel and Resort in Vancouver. The AFN established an aboriginal stream to focus on aboriginal interests and it included 12 seminars on various topics such as Canadian Red Cross, Youth Suicide, Healthy Aging, Water Safety, Canine Management, Children and Youth Indicators, Road Safety and others.
The AFN Injury Prevention Working Group met on the first day to review its terms of reference, presentation from Canadian Red Cross, and discussions included identifying the main priorities of Injury Prevention and what steps must be taken to create a safer environment for communities and individuals in prevention of injuries that will lower the risk of injuries parallel to improvement of the treatment of injuries. Injury prevention continues to be a limited funded program that needs definition to understand its complexities, resiliencies and challenges to encourage regional and national federal support for respective First Nations communities to support development of future policy and procedures to aspects of injury prevention.
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC formerly INAC)
The FSIN Executive met with Riel Bellegarde, Regional Director General - Saskatchewan Region, on November 15, 2011 to discuss priority issues affecting First Nations of Saskatchewan.
Grand Chief Emile Highway of the Saskatchewan First Nations Veterans Association presented the need to increase resources towards the Grave-marker project out of recognition and respect for First Nations veterans that continue to lie in unmarked graves.
Vice Chief Edward Lerat advocated for increased income assistance support for First Nations and for planning resources for Tribal Councils and First Nations towards the Active Measures program.
Vice Chief Lerat tabled a request to support the Chiefs Political Task Force on Child Welfare so that INAC fulfils its responsibilities towards a First Nations Child Welfare Framework. Vice Chief Lerat also requested that the Regional Director General ensure that Saskatchewan First Nations can access the full subsidy under the Nutrition North Canada program to help address the lack of food security in the north as First Nations face much higher costs to purchase healthy foods such as milk, eggs, fruits and vegetables.
Vice Chief Lerat scheduled a follow-up meeting with the Regional Director General for December 6, 2011.
MOU
The HSDS Commission Chiefs approved the First Nations Health & Wellness Plan in June 2011. The Project Management Committee continues to work on the approval process of the Plan from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health and Health Canada.
On November 8, 2011, the HSDS Special Projects team presented at the AFN National Health Forum in Ottawa on the progress of the MOU. The team has also been invited to do the same presentation at the First Nations Health Managers Association annual conference in Winnipeg, MB next week.
 

Up Coming Meetings and Events:

November 21 to 23, 2011: Community Action Program for Children Meeting, Ramada Hotel, Saskatoon
November 21 to 23, 2011: Senior Technical Advisory Group Travelodge, Saskatoon

November 23, 2011: MOU Presentation at the First Nations Health Managers Health Conference which runs November 22-24, 2011
November 23, 2011: Treaty Table Working Group on Health, Saskatoon
November 25, 2011: Heath & Social Development Commission Meeting

November 25, 2011: National School of Dental Therapy meeting with FNIH

Meeting Nov 25, 2011: Health and Social Development Commission Chiefs
BATC Boardroom Saskatoon

November 29 and 30, 2011: Health & Child Development Forum Conference
Saskatoon Inn, Saskatoon
June 21-24, 2012: Truth and Reconciliation Commission Saskatchewan National Event, Saskatoon