NDP calling for Indigenous consultation on Wascana Park bylaws

The Saskatchewan NDP thinks the Provincial Capital Commission needs to go back to the drawing board and initiate consultation on its new bylaws for Wascana Park.

This week, the commission — the body in charge of Wascana Park, which has been under provincial control since the 2017 budget —  is expected to release its bylaw review.

The NDP’s critic for First Nations and Metis relations, Betty Nippi-Albright, said Monday the commission hasn’t conducted any consultations on the new rules.

“Anytime we’re making decisions that impact the community, community needs to have a voice in that. They need to have input into those discussions, so consultation is extremely important,” said Nippi-Albright.

She said the lack of consultation is a “complete disregard” for the government’s First Nations and Metis consultation policy.

Nippi-Albright is calling on the government and the commission to immediately engage in consultation with the Indigenous community and do it before the bylaw review is released.

Nippi-Albright said it’s important to have consultation because the government used those bylaws to try to remove two Indigenous protests in recent years — the Justice for our Stolen Children camp in 2018, and the Walking with our Angels camp last summer.

“Indigenous peoples are protesting for their lives, their children’s lives, and their future,” said Nippi-Albright.

The court action to try to remove Tristen Durocher and his camp did not succeed and the judge in that case called the park’s bylaws unconstitutional because they didn’t have considerations for Indigenous ceremonial use and use for expression.

Nippi-Albright found it remarkable the government could be told the bylaws were unconstitutional and then not consult with any Indigenous people or partners on their redevelopment.

The NDP critic said she will be disappointed if the review was released and didn’t include things like giving people a place to demonstrate peacefully and to have ceremonies as well. She said if that’s not included in the bylaws, then it will be confirmation the government isn’t listening to the people most impacted by the policies it’s creating.

Nicole Sarauer, the NDP’s critic for the Provincial Capital Commission, joined the call, saying the lack of transparency, dialogue and consultation is just what the NDP has been hearing from people since the province took control of the park.

“Frankly, if concessions can be made in the park for companies like Brandt, then concessions should be able to be made for these folks as well,” said Sarauer.

The Provincial Capital Commission sent a statement in response to the criticism, saying it has done a thorough review of the bylaws after last fall’s ruling and has adjusted the relevant bylaws to comply with the order.

The commission didn’t answer the question as to why consultations weren’t done.

“The review was carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice’s Constitutional Law branch to ensure rights and privileges of all Saskatchewan residents, including Indigenous peoples, captured within Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms are respected and protected while in Wascana Centre,” read the statement from the commission.

The statement said the changed bylaws will be reviewed by the commission’s board of directors before they’re finalized.