A judge has ruled against a group of Indigenous rights protesters who have been camped on the grounds of the Saskatchewan Legislature since late February.
In her ruling, Justice Wilkinson says the rights of the Justice for Our Stolen Children group do not trump the rights of other users of Wascana Park or the government.
The judge says the protesters are free to use the park, like any other user, but they must obey the bylaws of the Wascana Authority.
The government and Provincial Capital Commission has taken issue with the protesters camping overnight in the park and burning fires.
Police tried to execute an ultimately unsuccessful eviction order in late June.
The protesters had tried to challenge the province’s mandate to evict them under the Canadian Charter of Rights arguing it is a fundamental freedom to protest peacefully in the park.
In the ruling, Justice Wilkinson gives the province and police the green light to evict the protest group immediately.
In emailed statement, Minister Responsible for the Wascana Centre Authority Ken Cheveldayoff says the government expects the Justice for Our Stolen Children camp to abide by the court decision.
The Camp says it will take the weekend to study the court decision and provide further comment Monday.
The FSIN says it is outraged by the court decision against the protesters.
In a release the organization say the Saskatchewan Government refuses to honour the Inherent and Treaty Rights of First Nations children in the province.
Leadership is urging the provincial government to listen to First Nations people and work together on implementing solutions to community issues.
The FSIN says organizers for the Justice for our Stolen Children Camp have stated that they plan to appeal.
(PHOTO: Justice for Our Stolen Children Camp. Photo by Dan Jones)