Cuthand: First Nations still overlooked during Saskatchewan election

Today, Indigenous and Métis people constitute a growing demographic and must be included in the province’s political future.

You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.

Once again the people of Saskatchewan are going to the polls and once again Indigenous issues have been shoved to the back burner.

The province’s First Nations and Métis populations are now approaching about one quarter of the provincial population, but our rights and concerns are somehow not a part of the discussion.

Under the Canadian constitution, the responsibility for First Nations rests with the federal government, giving successive provincial governments an excuse to ignore us.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

However, the Canadian constitution states that the provinces are responsible for health, education, incarceration and social programs that deeply affect our people. There are also treaty rights that were promised and included in the written text of the treaty.

Hospital care, for example, has been transferred to the provinces and the federal government provides an annual grant to administer this program. The only problem is that we have little involvement in the provincial health-care programs through........

© Saskatoon StarPhoenix