The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations has relaxed its stance, after some aggressive statements last week in response to the Wall government's cabinet shuffle.

"[It is] intended to reflect a growth agenda, yet the new structure fails to include the First Nations peoples," said Vice-Chief Morley Watson in a statement on Friday.

They said the decision to make Jim Reiter the new Minister of First Nations Métis Relations was ill advised, because he doesn't have First Nations communities in his constituency and may not be able to manage the ministry.

"Normally we thought it was a practice of governments to draw on the incoming minister's background experience," Watson said on Monday, explaining their reaction. He focused on what he called cautious optimism.

"We're certainly hoping, that perhaps, although the incoming minister doesn't have a lot of experience in dealing with us, that certainly together we can expedite the process," Watson said.

Now that the Wall government has had a few months after its re-election, Watson said the FSIN hopes posturing and "muscle flexing" can be put aside so they can focus on dealing with the issues.

"These are the good times, and we have to make sure that it's win-win for everybody."

jknoll@rawlco.com

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