PRIME MINISTER EXCLUDES STAR BLANKET CREE NATION ON HIS VISIT TO SASKATCHEWAN
- Jan 17, 2023
- 2 min read
Treaty 6 Territory, Saskatoon SK – The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) is dismayed by the Prime Minister’s lack of respect towards First Nations amidst the announcement of 2000 anomalies and an unearthed fragment of a child’s remains at Lebret Indian Residential School.
“The Prime Minister is without the decency to pay his respects in person to Star Blanket, as they mourn the horrific discovery. His lack of respect is hurtful towards all residential school survivors and descendants, who are grappling with how to handle finding the child's remains and more unmarked graves,” said FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron.
First Nation leaders invited the Prime Minister to Star Blanket’s announcement, but he declined because he was waiting to confirm a meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister.
Cameron says he first learned of the Prime Minister’s visit in the press and was taken aback that their request to attend the residential school announcement wasn’t valued as much as a tour of a rare earth mining processing plant that the Prime Minister is attending today in Saskatoon.
“We want him to see the site. The amount of anomalies is devastating to our people, who wonder how many of our relatives may have died there. This is a dark part of Canadian history that deserves acknowledgement from the Prime Minister of Canada,” said File Hills Qu’appelle Tribal Chief Jeremy Fourhorns.
Star Blanket is a 45-minute drive (70 km) northeast of Regina. FSIN leadership says this is a formal invitation to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to visit Star Blanket Cree Nation in the coming months.
“Part of the reconciliation journey is communication. There is no reconciliation without it. As the people of Star Blanket mourn, the Prime Minister is demonstrating their importance to him through his choices,” said Chief Cameron.
A fragment of a child’s jawbone was unearthed from an unmarked grave at the Lebret Indian Residential School site in southeast Saskatchewan. The people of Star Blanket are preparing
for a proper burial of the remains. They are also planning further investigations on the 2000 anomalies. Plans include core sampling and DNA tests to determine if they are human remains.
About FSIN
The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations represents 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan. The Federation is committed to honouring the spirit and intent of the Treaties, as well as the promotion, protection and implementation of the Treaty promises that were made more than a century ago.
Lisa Risom
Director of Communications
Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations
10 - 134 Kahkewistahaw Crescent Treaty Six Territory
Saskatoon, SK S7R 0M9
Cell: 306-987-0505 | FSIN Office: 306-914-306-914-6815
Email: communications@fsin.com
