Kaministikominahiko-skak Cree Nation is located near Cumberland House. (submitted photo/johncochrane.ca)

By Derek Cornet

federal court

Kaministikominahiko-skak Cree Nation requests meeting with Prime Minister Trudeau

Jul 17, 2020 | 2:52 PM

The Kaministikominahiko-skak Cree Nation is seeking a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after a recent court decision deemed the amalgamation of two First Nations in Saskatchewan was illegal.

Kaministikominahiko-skak Cree Nation (KCN) Chief John Dorion said he was excited about the legal ruling by a federal court back in February, which found the Chacachas Band and Kakisiwew Band were illegally amalgamated under the Indian Act in 1884. With the ruling in place, Dorion would like the federal government to discuss a plan with them regarding the de-amalgamation and the recognition of KCN.

“We’re not interested in Indian Affairs because we are a nation of people who signed Treaty 144 years ago,” Dorion said, adding he doesn’t know how long the band is willing to wait for a response from the Prime Minister’s Office. “Our business is with the Prime Minister of Canada, so we’re going to straight to the prime minister to see what he does because, according to the judge, band amalgamation was illegal.”

In 1876 at The Pas, Man., KCN Chief John Cochrane and two councillors signed an adhesion to Treaty 5, which was an amalgamation of several First Nations bands who lived in the Cumberland House region. At the time, the given name was the Cumberland Band of Indians.

For many years, KCN was known as John Cochrane First Nation for convenience until the original name was restored. Dorion explained his band wants the federal government to recognize them as a separate and distinct First Nation.

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“It’s exciting for us because there is a long process involved with recognition from the federal government and if they believe our research,” he said. “Once it gets to specific claims in Ottawa, then from what I understand it will be three years before they make a decision.”

Dorion is hopeful, however, that the process could be sped up given the court decision handed down in February.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno