Court orders Saskatoon Tribal Council to stop interfering with Sask. government in child care dispute

A Court of Queen's Bench judge has ordered the SaskatoonTribal Council to stop interfering with the Saskatchewan
government's right to enforce its responsibility for children incare.

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Justice Lian Schwann has ordered the council to provide documentsbeing sought by the province and to give government officials accessto inspect the documents.

Government lawyer Michael Morris had argued the province has tostep in because the tribal council wasn't sharing even basicinformation, such as how many children are in care or their names.

Josephine de Whytell, the lawyer for the tribal council, hadargued that First Nations have not given up their authority to actas independent nations responsible for the protection and well-beingof their children.

De Whytell said the tribal council was willing to provide theinformation for auditing and case transfer purposes, but not becauseit reports to the ministry as a subordinate agency.

Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Felix Thomas said they are asovereign nation and expect to be asked, rather than told, wheninformation is required.