Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety and Saskatoon Tribal Council Sign Agreement
Today, the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety and the Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support First Nations inmates as they transition back into their home communities.
Minister Tell, STC Tribal Chief Mark Arcand and STC Chiefs signed the Offender Reintegration Partnership Agreement.
The partnership agreement outlines measures that will be taken to advance long-term reconciliation regarding incarcerated individuals.
Some of the short- and mid-term goals are:
- implementing employment programming;
- enhancing education and training opportunities;
- creating high-quality cultural services in the Saskatoon Correctional Centre delivered exclusively by First Nations persons;
- developing a reintegration program that best supports individuals leaving incarceration; and
- evaluating outcomes for further enhancements to the partnership.
A Provincial Correctional Services Innovation committee will be established as part of the agreement to improve outcomes over time and continue the momentum in a positive direction for First Nations people.
Quote: Honourable Christine Tell, Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety
“This agreement is a step towards reducing the number of First Nations individuals that are incarcerated in our province,” Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Christine Tell said. “This will also allow us to further address the root causes of reoffending and create stronger communities by ensuring necessary supports and opportunities are available to those transitioning out of the criminal justice system.”
Quote: Tribal Chief Mark Arcand, Saskatoon Tribal
“Indigenous people continue to be overrepresented in our provincial correctional systems. The province and STC acknowledge that the work required to support rehabilitation and reintegration must be based on a shared response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action,” STC Tribal Chief Mark Arcand said. “This partnership ensures STC can offer Indigenous-led services for Indigenous people through employment, education, and cultural support to have a better quality of life.”
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For more information:
Ariane Whiting
Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety
Ariane.Whiting@gov.sk.ca
306-787-8621
Justin Waldrop
Saskatoon Tribal Council
Corporate Communications Specialist
jwaldrop@sktc.sk.ca
306-381-9873
During a media scrum, Tribal Chief Arcand and Minister Tell answer questions about the newly signed Offender Reintegration Agreement.
Tribal Chief Arcand, seven-member nation Chiefs, and Minister Tell officially signed all the Offender Reintegration Agreement documents.
Tribal Chief Arcand, seven-member nation Chiefs, and Minister Tell sign the Offender Reintegration Agreement documents.
Tribal Chief Arcand, seven-member nation Chiefs, and Minister Tell sign the Offender Reintegration Agreement documents.
Tribal Chief Arcand and Minister Tell sign the Offender Reintegration Agreement documents.
Tribal Chief, seven-member nation Chiefs, Minister Tell, and STC and Ministry of CPPS Staff gather for a photo.
Tribal Chief Mark Arcand, Saskatoon Tribal Council, speaks before the agreement-signing ceremony.
Honourable Christine Tell, Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety speaks before the agreement-signing ceremony.
Heather Scriver, Assistant Deputy Minister, Custody, Supervision and Rehabilitation Services, Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety (CPPS) speaks before the agreement-signing ceremony.
The seven-member nation Chiefs and Tribal Chief Arcand listen as Minister Tell speaks.
Before the signing ceremony, a meeting took place with STC and the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety to discuss Offender Reintegration Agreement and other related issues.
Before the signing ceremony, a meeting took place between STC and Minister Tell. Whitecap Dakota Chief Darcy Bear spoke about the importance of education and bridging gaps.
Event Attendees
This partnership agreement signing ceremony brought together many attendees from the Government of Saskatchewan and the Saskatoon Tribal Council. STC appreciates and is grateful for this partnership with the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety and the commitment to helping Indigenous peoples rehabilitate and reintegrate into their communities, thereby enhancing the quality of life for everyone.
Government of Saskatchewan:
- Honourable Christine Tell, Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety
- Honourable Gordon S. Wyant, Q.C., Minister of Justice and Attorney General
- Honourable Paul Merriman, Minister of Health
- Terry Jenson, MLA Martensville-Warman
- Ken Cheveldayoff, MLA Saskatoon Willowgrove
- Heather Scriver, Assistant Deputy Minister, Custody, Supervision and Rehabilitation Services, CPPS
- Leslie Gordon, Director, Indigenous and Chaplaincy Services, CPPS
- Cory Britton, Director, Education and Employment, CPPS
- Dean Carey, Executive Director, Offender Services, CPPS
- Elmer Eashappie, Indigenous Advisor, CPPS and Justice and Attorney General
- Diane Houk, Deputy Director, Programs, Saskatoon Correctional Centre, CPPS
- Diann Block, Cultural Coordinator, Saskatoon Correctional Centre, CPPS
- Noel Busse, Executive Director, Communications, Integrated Justice Services, CPPS and Justice and Attorney General
Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC):
- Senator George PeeAce
- Elder Peter Nippi
- Tribal Chief Mark Arcand, Saskatoon Tribal Council
- Chief Felix Thomas, Kinistin Saulteaux Nation
- Chief Daryl Watson, Mistwawasis Nêhiyawak
- Acting Chief for Chief Kelly Wolfe, Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, Curtis Lafond
- Chief Ava Bear, Muskoday First Nation
- Chief Tricia Sutherland, One Arrow First Nation
- Chief Darcy Bear, Whitecap Dakota First Nation
- Chief John Machiskinic, Yellow Quill First Nation
- Shantelle Watson, Chief Executive Officer, STC
- Doug Porter, Chief Operating Officer, STC
- Crystal LaPlante, Director of Justice, STC
- Marijayne Deschambeault, Urban Justice Coordinator, STC
- Charity Young, Community Justice Coordinator, STC
- Sandra Cameron, Executive Services and Office Manager, STC
- Justin Waldrop, Corporate Communications Specialist, STC
