The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations will be lobbying Ottawa for funding for their suicide prevention strategy.
Saskatchewan chiefs are expected to pass a motion at the FSIN assembly at the Dakota Dunes Casino to release the newly developed strategy.
The strategy will be calling for a coordinated, community-run approach to reducing suicide rates on Saskatchewan reserves, especially in the north.
FSIN Vice-Chief David Pratt is expecting the motion to be passed unanimously by the chiefs in assembly. He says now the lobbying efforts will begin to ensure funding for the strategy.
“We are hopeful this can be used as a toolkit to go after the federal government to get the resources we need in our communities,” he said.
Pratt is confident the current government will run with their ideas.
“They have signalled by their comments in the past that mental health and suicide in the north are issues on the top of their radar,” said the vice-chief. “We are now hoping they will follow-up their word with a firm commitment for the Saskatchewan region.”
As for the province, Pratt says they have had excellent discussions with the Scott Moe government over these issues.
“There is movement there and potential,” he said.
Pratt is not sure what the cost of implementing this strategy would be, but he did point to $118 million that was recently given to Ontario over five years for their suicide prevention strategy.
(PHOTO: FSIN Vice-Chief David Pratt. Photo by Joel Willick)