A picture taken during Thursday's signing ceremony. Indigenous Service Minister Marc Miller is on the far left and to his right STC Tribal Chief Mark Arcand. (Twitter/ Mark Miller)

By Nigel Maxwell

Autonomous communities

‘This is a significant reconciliation moment’: Saskatoon Tribal Council signs $70.8 million funding agreement with federal government

Aug 6, 2021 | 1:55 PM

The seven bands that belong to the Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) have moved one step closer to becoming completely autonomous over their own child and family services.

A formal agreement signed Thursday in Saskatoon, formally recognizes the Saskatoon Tribal Council as the authority that moving forward will distribute the federal funding to the respective communities. In the past that responsibility has belonged to the provincial government. STC Tribal Chief Mark Arcand told paNOW the announcement is worth $23.6 million per year, for the next three years.

“This is an agency where we typically get four to six million dollars so this is almost four times the amount in regards to what we are receiving for our progressive model,” Arcand said.

The formal signing of the “progressive model” has been years in the making, and the STC had to first lay out a detailed plan for the federal government how they would use the money.

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Arcand explained the STC will include the province as a partner, so they can learn of First Nations issues and what exactly is happening in the communities. One of the province’s previous responsibilities was apprehensions. Arcand confirmed the STC will not be dealing in a protection manner, but rather straight prevention.

“We are guaranteeing that no kids will leave our communities. If there’s a situation that occurs and they need to be moved from the house, we are going to move them in with family,” he said.

Bill C-92, passed in June, 2019, gave jurisdiction to First Nations groups to implement their own welfare legislation across Canada. Arcand confirmed the end goal is still to have the respective member bands take over full control in the next three to four years. In the meantime the STC’s “progressive model” will assist with the transition.

“This is a significant reconciliation moment,” Arcand said. “We want to keep children at home, where they can learn their culture, their language and their identity.”

The Saskatoon Tribal Council includes the following communities: Kinistin Saulteaux Nation, Mistawasis First Nation, Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, Muskoday First Nation, One Arrow First Nation, Whitecap Dakota First Nation and Yellow Quill First Nation.

Representatives from each community attended Thursday’s signing ceremony.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell