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Indigenous protesters to meet with Saskatchewan cabinet ministers

Jun 26, 2018 | 2:30 PM

REGINA — Indigenous protesters who set up teepees outside the Saskatchewan legislature to press the government for a meeting are to hold discussions Monday with a group of cabinet ministers.

The Justice for our Stolen Children camp was set up in February after the acquittals of Gerald Stanley in the fatal shooting of Colten Boushie and Raymond Cormier in the death of Manitoba teen Tina Fontaine.

Both victims were Indigenous.

The government had the protesters evicted last week but they set up the camp again a few days later, adding more teepees.

Five cabinet ministers, including deputy premier Gord Wyant, are to meet with a group of the protesters in Fort Qu’Appelle outside of Regina.

Robyn Pitawanakwat, spokeswoman for the protesters, says they are looking forward to raising their concerns.

“There are a number of issues we’ve been talking about throughout that time that we’ve been at the camp — child and family services issues, youth incarceration, investigations that seem to go cold or are never investigated property in the first place,” she said Tuesday.

The government said other ministers who will take part include Justice Minister Don Morgan, Social Services Minister Paul Merriman, First Nations Minister Warren Kaeding and Central Services Minister Ken Cheveldayoff.

“The Government of Saskatchewan has always been open to a meeting with this group and have offered several dates previously,” the government said in a release. 

The protesters said they intend to maintain the camp outside the legislature at least until the meeting, which means it will still be up for Canada Day celebrations in Wascana Park. (The Canadian Press, CJME, CKRM)

 

The Canadian Press

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. Previous version had minister’s first name as Kevin.