NDP leader Ryan Meili is pushing the provincial government to set a firm date on when it will apologize to Sixties Scoop survivors
Meili’s remarks come after a federal judge recently approved a $750 million settlement.
“We want to make sure the survivors are leading the process, but not having it put upon them as to having to do all the work,” Meili stated. “It can’t all be put on Indigenous people and have government say we won’t do anything until they’ve done the work.”
The government has been meeting with survivors as recently as last week. Minister of First Nations, Métis and Northern Affairs, Warren Kaeding, says the government is engaged with survivors on establishing a process, which will lead to a meaningful apology.
“For this apology to have any value, it has to be driven by those who we are apologizing to. We’re not willing to take any greater role than that,” Kaeding said. “Ultimately, there will be a time when we’re going to have that public apology made, but it’s not going to be our call. It’s going to be when everybody is ready to have that.”
Following the April meeting, Melissa Parkin, spokesperson for members of the Sixty Scoop Indigenous Survivors of Saskatchewan Group, said the meeting with the government went well.
“This is the first of future discussions with the Government of Saskatchewan and we look forward to working in partnership to develop a process that will give survivors an opportunity to be heard in safe surroundings,” said Parkin. “Ultimately, this will lead to a meaningful apology based on what Sixty Scoop survivors feel is important.”
(PHOTO: A group of Sixties Scoop survivors with Deputy Premier Gord Wyant and First Nations and Metis Relations Minister Warren Kaeding. Photo provided by Robert Doucette.)