Court orders Saskatoon Tribal Council to stop interfering with Sask. government in child care dispute
Justice Lian Schwann has ordered the council to provide documents being sought by the province
A Court of Queen's Bench judge has ordered the Saskatoon Tribal Council to stop interfering with the Saskatchewan
government's right to enforce its responsibility for children in care.
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Justice Lian Schwann has ordered the council to provide documents being sought by the province and to give government officials access to inspect the documents.
Government lawyer Michael Morris had argued the province has to step in because the tribal council wasn't sharing even basic information, such as how many children are in care or their names.
Josephine de Whytell, the lawyer for the tribal council, had argued that First Nations have not given up their authority to act as independent nations responsible for the protection and well-being of their children.
De Whytell said the tribal council was willing to provide the information for auditing and case transfer purposes, but not because it reports to the ministry as a subordinate agency.
Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Felix Thomas said they are a sovereign nation and expect to be asked, rather than told, when information is required.