The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations spring legislative assembly is set to get underway at Whitecap Dakota First Nation today.
Chiefs from across the province will be gathering for the two-day assembly at the Dakota Dunes Casino to make resolutions on topics like wildfire proposals, commercial fisheries and suicide prevention.
Other items on the agenda include addressing alleged racism in the justice system and discussions on First Nation jurisdiction on cannabis.
AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde is scheduled to address the assembly tomorrow. The FSIN was also planning to host Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at this assembly, but it appears those plans did not come to fruition.
Just a day before the assembly, the FSIN officially threw its support behind the fight for repairs to the Fond-du-Lac airport.
In December, a passenger plane crashed shortly after takeoff at the airport. Arson Fern Jr., 19, died as a result of injuries he sustained in the crash.
The FSIN now says it officially and fully supports the fight for immediate and extensive airport renovations at the far northern community.
“The province and Transport Canada knew these problems existed long before this crash occurred” said FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron in a media release. “They have a responsibility to these communities and they continue to put lives at risk.”
At latest word, the Transportation Safety Board announced the plane that crashed was not de-iced properly, but wouldn’t confirm if this was the cause of the crash. The investigation into the incident is still ongoing.
(PHOTO: FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron. File photo.)