By Canadian Press

Prime minister heading to Saskatchewan First Nation for child-welfare agreement

Jul 5, 2021 | 5:36 PM

COWESSESS FIRST NATION — The Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is coming to the Indigenous community on Tuesday.

Chief Cadmus Delorme says in a statement on Twitter that the prime minister and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe will attend a signing ceremony as part of a transfer of control over children in care to the community.

The First Nation is one of several Indigenous groups that have notified Indigenous Services Canada that they intend to handle their own child and family services as allowed under federal legislation.

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, which represents 74 Saskatchewan First Nations, announced last year that it wanted $360 million from Ottawa over five years to apply the legislation on reserves.

Cowessess is also the site of a former residential school where, last month, ground-penetrating radar detected a potential 751 unmarked graves.

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In his Canada Day message, Trudeau said the horrific findings at former residential school sites have pressed Canadians to reflect on historical failures and ongoing injustices.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 5, 2021.

The Canadian Press