Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall promises top-level meeting over TRC recommendations

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall issued a statement Friday praising the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and pledged to hold top-level meetings with First Nations leaders over its recommendations.

The commission released a summary of its findings, and a list of recommendations, earlier this month. The full report of the commission, which spent six years examining Canada's residential schools, is expected in the fall.

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On Friday, Wall noted the courage of residential school survivors who shared their experiences and said the province will follow up on the findings and recommendations.

"[T]he Truth and Reconciliation Commission has put us on a path towards reconciliation," Wall said in his statement. "The Government of Saskatchewan is committed to meeting this task through the adoption of practical solutions."

He added that his First Nations Minister, Jim Reiter, has been in touch with Assembly of First Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde and a meeting will take place in a few weeks.

Here is the full text of Wall's statement:

The Government of Saskatchewan recognizes the considerable work of Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission over the past six years and the courage of the residential school survivors who shared their experiences. We thank the Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair, Dr. Marie Wilson, and Chief Wilton Littlechild for their summary final report, Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future.

Too many Saskatchewan families and individuals are living with the legacy of residential schools. Drawing from the strength of survivors, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has put us on a path towards reconciliation.

The Government of Saskatchewan is committed to meeting this task through the adoption of practical solutions. We will create a multi-ministry team to carefully examine this report and the full report once released. We will look to build on successes, such as teaching Treaty and First Nations and Mtis histories in the classroom and the Joint Task Force on improving education and employment outcomes for First Nations and Mtis people. The recommendations and the stories conveyed throughout the Commission's work will be critical to informing Saskatchewan's future efforts towards reconciliation.

Since the release of the report, First Nations Minister Jim Reiter has spoken on the phone with Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde. They have agreed to meet in the next few weeks to further discuss the report and next steps.