Indigenous kids need to be in the care of Indigenous people.

That was the message from the vice chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indigenous Nations to the provincial government on the steps of the legislature earlier this week.

David Pratt is lobbying the provincial government to give the jurisdiction of all Indigenous children in the care of social services to Indigenous groups.

Seventy two per cent of the children in government care in 2017 were Indigenous, a number that’s been steadily rising over the last four years.

Pratt said while the premier and Paul Merriman, the minister responsible said on the floor of the legislature that they have been working with partners at FSIN, Pratt said he’s worked there and hasn’t seen it except for a couple of times.

Merriman said the province has made great strides forward with First Nations communities.

 

(With files from CJME)