The leadership of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations is urging the provincial government to sit down with protesters camped on the Wascana grounds across from the Legislative Building.
“Give these folks, these good folks Prescott [Demas] and the others, listen to them. They want to be heard. They need to be heard and they must be heard. So, we encourage and urge the provincial government to sit with them, meet with them,” said FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron.
The camp was erected approximately 105 days ago to what organizers say is to raise awareness to the injustices facing Indigenous Peoples, particularly the verdicts of Gerald Stanley and Raymond Cormier.
“Our people have the Inherent and Treaty Right to ensure that our children are safe and protected within our own communities” states Cameron. “They have been camped out on their doorsteps for months, why is it so hard for them to stop for a moment and have a conversation about saving the lives of First Nations children?”
Yet the government says it has tried to meet with the protesters.
“Representatives of the Government of Saskatchewan and Cabinet have visited the camp multiple times and offered to set up formal meetings on many dates and in many locations. These have been refused. Minister Cheveldayoff, Deputy Minister Richard Murray, and Speaker Docherty have visited the camp on many occasions. As recently as yesterday, June 13th, Minister Cheveldayoff, Minister Merriman, Minister Morgan and Minister Kaeding visited the camp,” explained Jim Billington, Press Secretary to the Premier.
Camp organizer Prescott Demas would not elaborate on the discussions with the Ministers or any outcomes.
(PHOTO: Protest camp by Dan Jones)