Judge adjourns hearing as gov’t seeks to remove teepee from legislature lawn

The Saskatchewan government’s attempt to get a court order to remove Tristen Durocher’s teepee from the lawn in front of the Legislative Building has been put on hold.

The province filed an application to Court of Queen’s Bench seeking the court order. During a hearing Thursday, the matter was adjourned to Sept. 4.

Durocher has been camping across the street from the legislature since completing a walk of more than 600 kilometres to Regina from Air Ronge in July as part of a protest against the province’s suicide prevention strategy.

After arriving, he began a spiritual fast.

The Provincial Capital Commission has said the camp breaks Wascana Park bylaws, which prohibit setting up a structure in the park and remaining on the grounds overnight.

“What does this mean?” Durocher wrote on Facebook after Thursday’s adjournment. “I’m safe for now and the Regina City Police Service will not assist the Capitol (sic) Commission in any forced removals without an order from the Queens Bench.”

Durocher already has said he will end his fast Sept. 13, 44 days after starting it. The length signifies one day for every Saskatchewan MLA who voted against the suicide prevention bill when it was defeated in June.

In his Facebook post, the 24-year-old suggested the province should drop the matter.

“If the government was smart they would have our case dismissed because now they know the end date for the spiritual fast is September 13th,” he wrote. “But are they smart?”

City and police officials have weighed in on the camp. On Tuesday, chiefs from Saskatchewan First Nations and others joined Durocher at the camp to offer their support.