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SARM commits to improving ties with Indigenous communities

Feb 14, 2018 | 9:00 AM

The association that represents Saskatchewan’s rural municipalities is encouraging communities to demonstrate consideration, patience and understanding in the wake of the Gerald Stanley verdict.

SARM President Ray Orb said he’s heard and seen many derogatory comments tossed back and forth recently, and he is worried good relationships will suffer as a result. In an effort to address to what he referred to as deficiencies between RMs and the neighbouring bands, Orb said SARM has created a rural Indigenous task force. Orb said they want to work with the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) on important issues such as economic development and transportation.

The task force will have its first meeting on Thursday. Orb said the task force currently consists of SARM board members, but he would like to include members from the FSIN as well.

“We’re gonna develop a term of reference and then we are going to be expanding on that,” he said.

SARM released a statement on their website regarding the Gerald Stanley verdict Tuesday. The statement expressed SARM’s belief that Saskatchewan people are better united than divided.

“It takes community to build a healthy, strong rural Saskatchewan,” the statement read. “SARM will continue to cultivate relationships with the FSIN and the Office of the Treaty Commissioner to identify areas of common ground to advance all our communities.”

 

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell