By Bryan Eneas

Gateway to the North hosts FSIN Spring Assembly

May 16, 2017 | 9:03 AM

Representatives of the 74 Indigenous nations in Saskatchewan will be in Prince Albert this week.

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) Spring Assembly will take place on May 17 and 18 at the Senator Allan Bird Memorial Center.

“The focus will always be on our inherent and treaty rights for all sectors,” FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron said. “That ranges from education, housing, the medicine chest clause…our lands and waters, our natural resources.”

The FSIN chief said education is an important point which will be discussed during the assembly. In 2016, the Trudeau government announced an additional $2.6 billion into Indigenous specific education, and $90 million in March of 2017 into Indigenous post-secondary education.

“Things are slow,” Cameron said. “Sure there was an investment…We’re strongly encouraging the government to fast-track this.”

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He said there are Indigenous communities in Saskatchewan who are still waiting for funds to trickle down.  

Some decisions will be made regarding the “systemic discrimination” Indigenous peoples face on a day-to-day basis.  

Assembly of First Nation’s National Chief Perry Bellegarde will address the assembly on Thursday. Cameron said he’ll provide his annual report for the Saskatchewan region of the national lobbying organization.

“A lot of work has been going on at the AFN level,” Cameron said. “A lot of good work is going on, but still a lot more to do.”

Prince Albert Grand Council’s Grand Chief Ron Michel will be retiring from public service later this year and the FSIN will honour his 40 years of service on Wednesday. On Thursday, Prince Albert’s Citizen of the Year Sheryl Kimbley will also be honoured.

“It’s a pretty big accomplishment for our First Nations out there who are succeeding at the municipal level, the federal level, the provincial level,” Cameron said. “We’re going to celebrate these individuals and honour them.”

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas