The chief of the Saskatoon Tribal Council hopes new funding from the federal government will allow them to expand into different programs.
The Conservative government announced $537,990 in funding to the STC on Thursday, to be used toward Aboriginal justice programs.
“We have had the funding ongoing for a while and we have improved a lot of services for youth in the justice program in the city here, so this funding has helped in the past and will continue to help in the future,” said STC Chief Felix Thomas.
The funding will be spread out over two years and will be directed to three different STC justice-based programs.
Those three programs include the STC Community Justice Program, the Extrajudicial Measures Program and the Opikinawasowin Reintegration Program.
Thomas says this funding may allow them the capacity to expand their justice services into other areas.
The chief says they can now get involved in services like the Yarrow Youth Farm or the Saskatoon Hub.
“Without these services we couldn’t have that involvement or expand our services,” said Thomas.
The tribal council recently showed interest in taking over the Yarrow Youth Farm from the provincial government.
It is still uncertain what will happen to the facility when it closes down on March 31.