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Flying Dust First Nation CCP Presentation in Ottawa

On September 7, 2017 a delegation from Flying Dust First Nation was invited to Ottawa to present to INAC, the Government of Canada, and the AFN’s working groups about the Comprehensive Community Planning process in Flying Dust, along with the main priorities outlined in the FDFN CCP. The working groups’ mandate is to provide a report to the Prime Minister’s office this fall, on the new fiscal relationship between Canada and First Nations. The delegation consisted of Chief Jeremy Norman, Economic Development Director Albert Derocher, and CCP Community Planning Coordinator Joseph Tootoosis.

The presentation outlined the barriers that come with implementing goals in a community plan, and the funding structures that make it difficult to make strides in Education, Youth and Recreation, Economic Development and Infrastructure. Flying Dust is hopeful to secure additional funding for community planning, as well as the implementation of the priorities in Flying Dust pertaining to water treatment infrastructure, returning expropriated land as part of FDFN’s specific claim of the CN rail lands along railway avenue, and a youth/cultural center, among others. Chief Jeremy Norman was able to give his perspective on the community planning process in 2007, as well as from his multiple terms serving in leadership and in the community; speaking from his experience was also complemented by the experience of Albert Derocher and Joseph Tootoosis in the update of the community plan started in 2015. It was commented from many at the meeting that the CCP presentation has helped give new perspective to top officials at INAC and the AFN on the benefits of community planning for First Nations in Canada, and that this new perspective will benefit 634 First nations across the country. Flying Dust continues to be a leader in this area for Saskatchewan, as well as at the National level.