Sacichawasihc agreement receives provincial spotlight with municipal award

“What we have done up to now to address the issues that face all of our communities is not working,” Semaganis said. “It is up to the leadership to help set a path and find a path to all the agencies that exist in North Battleford and the agencies that exist for the First Nations and work together.”

But he and his fellow chiefs and mayors around the table admit they need to leverage the help of senior levels of government in order to tackle an array of issues plaguing their communities.

“We have to highlight the issues but we also have to bring the solutions and this is what we are doing,” Semaganis added.

Mayor Ryan Bater the agreement is one of if not the highest priority for the city and key vessel to ensure neighbours will work together to address similar challenges. Bater hopes the award puts wind in the groups sails and grabs the attention of federal and provincial politicians for assistance in developing frameworks moving forward.

“We have jurisdictional issues, both geographic and just within different orders of government,” Bater said. “This is really about aligning resources. When we talk about addictions or gun crime or health issues, we can’t do that alone here together. He have been trying and we are not really getting very far.”

Chief of the Sweetgrass First Nation Laurence Paskemin hopes the agreement allows the signatories to pool resources and address both negative and positive issues in their communities, such as employment and economic opportunity.

“Hopefully this will see the fruits of our labour in the near future,” he said.

Kenny Moccasin called the agreement one of a kind in Saskatchewan but said it shouldn’t have taken an agreement to get everyone to work together, saying it should have started years and years ago. Nonetheless, the chief of the Saulteaux First Nation looks forward to see how the group can spur economic development and work together for the betterment of all.

Lucky Man Cree Nation Chief Crystal Okemow said plenty of work lies on the horizon to stem the flood of challenges the neighbouring communities contend with. She said it is encouraging to be involved in something innovative and unique in the province.

“We are trying to do something different because I think at the end of the day our goal is the wellbeing of our people,” she said. “When you have the well being of your people at hand tough discussions have to be made and [you have to work] together for long term goals.”

Chief Brad Swiftwolfe said the award is just the start of the entire process in working to ensure everyone, including those in his community of Moosomin First Nation.

The leaders anticipate setting dates to meet with provincial bureaucrats and Premier Scott Moe in the near future.

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tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr

by Tyler Marr

Sacichawasihc agreement receives provincial spotlight with municipal award

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