The Justice Of Our Stolen Children protesters have provided their list of requests that were given to the five Ministers they spoke with on Monday. Representatives from the camp met with Minister of Central Services Ken Cheveldayoff, Minister of Government Relations Warren Kaeding, Minister of Social Services Paul Merriman, Minister of Justice Don Morgan and Deputy Premier Gord Wyant at the Treaty Four Governance Centre in Fort Qu’Appelle on Sunday. Neither the protesters nor the Ministers spoke with the media afterwards but on Monday, back at the Legislature grounds where the camp is established, the protesters through spokesperson Michelle Stewart presented their list of actionable items.
For Minister of Social Services Paul Merriman, they’ve requested:
1.Clear data on the number of children in care and the duration they ve been in care, with a particular focus on data for Indigenous children.
2. Review of all permanent wards.
3. A review of all long term wards, including file updates to see if any of them can be sent home.
4. Demonstrate the use of in-home supervision in lieu of apprehension.
5. As previously arranged, attend the Red Pheasant First Nation.
6. Place a moratorium on adoptions and planned expansion of the foster care system.
7. Develop a full report on each child in care, including details on the developmental and cultural needs.
8. Create a review practice for all foster homes in Saskatchewan.
9. A cost analysis relative to how the Ministry is resourcing families so they can stay together or efforts for re-unification.
For to the Ministry of Justice,
An inquiry into the matters related to the death of Haven Dubois. More broadly, an inquiry into police practices in the Major Crimes Unit specifically at the Regina Police Service in 2015.
2. Scope out and pursue an inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous men and boys.
3. Review the Police and Coroners Acts for revisions.
Williams also said a request was submitted to the Minister of Central Services and the Provincial Capital Commission to cease effort to remove the camp or pursuing a court order with the same intent.
“And to all ministers, we requested they strike an inter-minsterial round table that would include the Minister of Health, as these largely are social determinants of health issues,” she said. “The issues discussed here are interconnected with the impacts that exceed one portfolio.”
The protesters asked for another meeting between the camp and the province in 2 weeks. (CKRM)