People from across the province will be flocking to Nipawin on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.
That's when the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations will be holding their Spring Legislative Assembly.

Along with Nipawin, the Shoal Lake Cree Nation, the Red Earth First Nation and the Cumberland House Cree Nation are also helping in hosting the assembly.

Chief Marcel Head, of the Shoal Lake Cree Nation, said this is the first time the FSIN Assembly has been held this far north.

“Mainly our focus is to demonstrate to the Chiefs of Saskatchewan and to the general public in the province of Saskatchewan that there are way that the First Nations and non-First Nations could work together,” said Chief Head.

The three First Nations communities and the town of Nipawin are currently working on an economic, social, environmental, health partnership with the town and hosting the assembly in Nipawin could help strengthen that relationship.

Town Councilor Kathy Palidwar said it will be a great experience for everyone in attendance.

“It will be good exposure for some to experience traditional culture, traditional foods, be a part of it and just sit back and listen,” Palidwar said.

She says there are pretty significant partnerships between the town and surrounding first nations already, but the assembly will help to strengthen them even more.

“We’ve been looking at some employment programs to see how the communities can work together, that was very positive,” said Palidwar.

Palidwar said the meeting will help people learn about current issues and give exposure to the community.

“It gives a strong message of the ability and the drive for partnerships within our province and that’s the direction that this mayor and council and our entire area are looking at,” said Palidwar.

“One of the pressing issues that we’re going to be dealing with is the changing of the Indian Act. We’ll basically be quizzing MP Rob Clarke about what this means. Trust is a main goal, is a main goal, in the changing of the Indian Act and we’re going to be asking questions to him point blank,” said Chief Head.

The first day of the Assembly will start with a Pipe Ceremony at the Evergreen Centre and then will proceed into the opening ceremonies.

Click here for the agenda.

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