July 13th, 2018

CAMP JUSTICE FOR OUR STOLEN CHILDREN

Dear Sir/Madam:

Thank you for providing the summary of the discussions and concerns raised during our July 2nd,
2018 meeting. We appreciate the opportunity to respond to these items in writing.

Many of the concerns identified are areas that the Government of Saskatchewan has already
taken action on and will continue to take action on.

Ministry of Social Services:

1. Clear data on the number of children in care and duration of care. This data should include
all children but we are focused on Indigenous children specifically. Make this information
available to us but also publicly available.

The Ministry of Social Services has been publicly reporting information about children in
care since 2009. This information is available on request and posted on the Ministry’s
website at:
https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/family-and-social-support/putting-children-first

2. A review of all permanent wards.

3. Review of all long term wards including updating all of their files to see if any of these
wards can go home based on the updated material Review with Plan for Reunification

There is a formal review done every year, and this includes looking at the family’s readiness
for reunification. At the request of the family, or any one on the child’s care team, or at the
request of a child’s band, this review can be done more frequently.

Each child or youth we work with is unique and an individualized plan is developed with the
child, their family and the service or care providers who work with the family.

4. Demonstrate the use of in-home supervision in lieu of apprehension. This will go a long
way in showing good faith efforts by the Province.

Helping families safely care for their children at home is part of the range of services we
offer and is often our first step. Taking children into care is a last resort when the child’s
safety or well-being is at risk.
 We provide in-home supports that are specific to each family’s needs, ranging from 10 or 20
hours per week up to 24-hour, seven-days-a-week support. Right now, we are providing in-
home supports to over 1,500 families across the province so children can live safely at home.

5. Go to Red Pheasant as was originally arranged

Minister of Social Services, Paul Merriman had previously committed to visiting Red
Pheasant First Nation and provided his contact information to arrange a date for this visit. He
again extended this offer at the recent meeting.

6. Place a moratorium on adoptions and the planned expansion of foster system. Demonstrate
a reinvestment in families and biological homes of children

The Ministry of Social Services’ top priority and responsibility is the safety and well-being
of all Saskatchewan children. Whenever possible, the Ministry works to keep families
together, providing in-home supports to help parents safely care for their children at home, or
placing children with a member of their extended family.

When there are no other alternatives or a child’s safety is at risk we rely on our foster care
system. We have been proud to partner with the Saskatchewan Foster Families Association
and appreciate the work they do.

These decisions are not made in isolation. The Ministry has established agreements with 17
First Nation Child and Family Service Agencies. We work closely with these agencies,
bands, parents, extended family members to determine what placement is available and will
be best for the child.

7. Develop a full report on each child in care that includes details on their cultural and
developmental needs.

These reports are done for each child in the ministry’s care. Each child or youth we work
with is unique and an individualized plan is developed with the child, their family and the
service or care providers who work with the family. It includes not just plans to support the
child’s developmental and cultural needs, but also plans for ongoing contact with family,
shared parenting and family reunification.

This plan is updated periodically so it remains relevant to that child, families and caregivers.

8. Create a review practice for all foster homes. Workers have mandates to visit children in
care at specific times (monthly, six months etc). There is a need for foster homes to operate
on a similar schedule to avoid overcrowding and injuries.

The Ministry has an established practice for this. Caseworkers providing services to children
in care have contact monthly (at minimum) with both the child and their care providers.
 We also perform home visits to all foster homes in the province every six months, and
conduct a comprehensive annual review that includes a home visit and safety check.

9. Costs analysis relative to how the Ministry is resourcing families to stay together or
reunification relative to costs paid to agencies such as Ranch Ehrlo (that house children in
care).

The Ministry of Social Services prioritizes supports based on the needs of the children and
their families. Resources are provided as we connect children, youth and families to supports
and services that are going to best meet their unique needs.

We have strong partners operating in communities across the province providing a variety of
programs and services.

Community organizations like Fox Valley Counselling and Prairie Spirit Connections in
Regina, CUMFI in Saskatoon and SIGN in Yorkton provide a number of culturally relevant
programming. These programs range from talking circles to fathers’ and mothers’ support
groups to in-home supports and reunification efforts for children and their families.

We also have organizations that provide high-quality, nationally-recognized care and support
for children and youth who may have intensive medical or other needs, such as Ranch Ehrlo,
Hope’s Home and Eagles Nest.

Ministry of Justice and Attorney General

1. An Inquiry into the Matters Relating to the Death of Haven Dubois—or more broadly an
inquiry into police practices at Regina Police Service in 2015.

Our hearts go out to Richelle Dubois. As Minister of Justice, Gordon Wyant met with
Richelle Dubois and Michelle Stewart to discuss the potential for an inquiry into Haven’s
tragic death. It was decided at that time that we would not be holding an inquest or inquiry.

We are currently waiting for the Ombudsman’s report into how the Coroner’s office handled
Haven Dubois’s case and we cannot commit to anything until this report is released.

2. Scope out and pursue and Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Men and Boys

The Province of Saskatchewan was one of the first provinces to support the federal Inquiry
into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).

After the completion of the MMIWG Inquiry the Government of Saskatchewan would
examine supporting a federal inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Men and Boys.

3. Review the Police Act and Coroners Act for revisions. Both are woefully out of date.
 Former Chief of Saskatoon Police Clive Weighill just completed an external review of the
Coroner’s office. The Ministry of Justice is currently examining the report and is working on
implementing many of the recommendations. Copies of the report can be provided upon
request.

We are not looking at examining the Police Act at this time but will take it under
consideration going forward.

For the last number of months those associated with the camp have requested a meeting to voice
their concerns. We committed to having that dialogue and after several attempts to arrange a
meeting we were pleased to participate on July 2nd, 2018.

The concerns raised will be taken forward as we continue to work with our 17 First Nation Child
and Family Service Agencies and other Indigenous leaders and partners, the Federal Government
and other jurisdictions.

The Government of Saskatchewan’s expectation continues to be that the unpermitted camp will
be removed from Wascana Park.