Province reverses policy withholding ‘specific claims’ from First Nations people

A day after the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) called on the provincial and federal governments to rescind a policy that withholds income assistance regarding “specific claims” for First Nations people, the provincial government appears to have heard that message.

On Wednesday afternoon, the province said it plans to update its approach to per-capita distribution payments for First Nations members who are getting income assistance.

“After conducting a policy review, the ministry (of Social Services) is exempting per-capita distribution payments for First Nations members receiving Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS) or Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability benefits,” Social Services Minister Gene Makowsky said in a statement.

He added that the Saskatchewan Party government remains committed to the ongoing journey of reconciliation.

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Previously, the ministry was exempting per-capita distribution payments for First Nations members receiving income assistance up to $15,000 per member per settlement.

The message from the provincial government might have changed after the FSIN held a news conference at its Saskatoon office Tuesday during which it called out the province for withholding income assistance from First Nations people.

The “specific claims” are given to some First Nations people because they’re designed to correct historic injustices.

FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron suggested First Nations people weren’t consulted when the previous policy change was made and didn’t think the change was legally allowed to happen.

“When our treaties were signed in the 1800s, one of them was exemption from taxation. Those treaties are sacred covenants – a pledge, commitment and honouring between the government of the day and chiefs of the day,” he said Tuesday. “Those papers are of international law. They aren’t provincial law, they’re federal law. That is our stronghold here going forward.”

Other chiefs who spoke at Tuesday’s news conference said the money really helps people like single parents. Clearwater River Dene Nation Chief Teddy Clark said the policy would’ve unnecessarily hurt his people.

“It’s very heartbreaking to think that our people are starting to slowly move ahead and all of a sudden obstacles are being thrown in the way again,” said Clark. “It’s a fairly big obstacle, the way I see it. It’s a way to deter us moving forward.”

The FSIN added it is committed to honouring the spirit and intent of the treaties, as well as the promotion, protection and implementation of the treaty promises that were made more than 100 years ago.

650 CKOM has reached out to the FSIN for further comment.