The Saskatchewan Green Party has 58 candidates on the ballot in the 2024 Saskatchewan General Election. Of those 58 candidates, 27 are Indigenous or Metis people. This is important in a province examined in an August 8, 2016 Maclean's article, “Saskatchewan: A special report on race and power”, where the question was asked: “How many Indigenous people are in positions of power in Saskatchewan?” 

The results were shockingly low. The article also states: “Right now, 22 percent of Saskatchewan’s population is non-white: 16 percent Indigenous and 6.3 percent visible minority – figures that are expected to jump when new census figures are released early next year. And yet Saskatchewan’s power structure does not reflect its changing face.”

Read the full article here https://macleans.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan-a-special-report-on-race-and-power/

The Saskatchewan Green Party receives the lowest dollar figure in donations of any political party in the province. Our candidates often step up from lower economic brackets. They therefore face significant challenges receiving equivalent attention to their campaigns that candidates from larger parties with bigger bank accounts do. This election, with the NDP and SaskParty MLAs having voted unanimously (not a single objector) to raise candidate nomination fees from $100 to $500 per candidate, the SGP was left with their fundraising barely able to cover the cost of registering all these candidates onto the ballot. This new pre-election regime leaves candidates in the SGP who cannot self-fund their campaigns at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to getting their message out by way of the needed leaflets, billboards, lawn signs,  radio messages, etc.  

One way that candidates get recognition is through the leader of their party receiving media coverage. For many people, the only time they tune in to politics is by watching the CBC, CTV and Global TV province-wide debate. Any leader who could form government should be included. Naomi Hunter, our Saskatchewan Green Party leader belongs on that debate stage. 

Is this the way we want politics to be done in our province? There are voters in this province whose vote would definitely be influenced by knowing that there is a party running Indigenous voices as half their slate of candidates. The SGP is the only party with enough candidates on the ballot to form the government after October 28, other than the NDP and SaskParty. 

To quote the Maclean’s article cited above, “In the course of reporting a story earlier this year about the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in provincial jails, Maclean’s heard complaints of representational deficiencies in the province’s power structure; the magazine undertook a survey that looked at the 265 most powerful people in government, justice, business, and education. Just 17 positions were filled by non-white people—1.8 percent by visible minorities, and 4.5 percent by Metis or First Nations peoples. The mayors of Saskatchewan’s nine biggest cities are white. So are all but one of the chiefs of police; 18 of 19 city councillors in its two major cities, Saskatoon and Regina; the presidents of its two universities and its biggest college; and its six major sports teams.”

The SGP honours the teachings and guidance that we are receiving from the Sovereign Indigenous People Advisory Council, and we say "Chi Migwich" for their patience as we journey in a good way. The Saskatchewan Green Party continues to ‘look, listen, and learn’ with respect, from this SIPAC guidance, as we make a stronger commitment to empower the Treaties in this province and recognize the original governance of the Tribal Clans as equals. This is long, long overdue, and our commitment to journey together is resolute in our policy.

This is from our Saskatchewan Green Party policy platform:

2024 SGP Platform
Respecting Indigenous Peoples

We must begin by acknowledging that we are in the ancestral and unceded territory of Indigenous Peoples.

Canada is often touted as one of the best places on earth in which to live, with one profound exception. The quality of life for many of us is sharply contrasted by life on reserves and life for off-reserve urban Indigenous people across Canada.

The issues impacting Indigenous peoples in Canada are complex and cannot be assessed without a full sense of the violence of generations of occupation and assault upon their traditional cultures and values.

With respectful action in Treaty relationships and reconciliation, the Saskatchewan Green Party works in collaboration with the Sovereign Indigenous People Advisory Council for their guidance in a positive direction for the future.

There must be fundamental dignity for all Indigenous peoples, and if the federal government refuses to lead in this area, the provinces must take charge.

The Saskatchewan Green Party promises to lead with respect, allying with Indigenous leaders to end negligent policies and ensure strong support of health, education, water protection, and economic opportunities in our jurisdiction.

The Saskatchewan Greens have adopted a resolution respecting the rights of Mother Earth and rewritten our entire policy documents to now reflect this resolution.

Green MLAs will:

- Use the Peace and Friendship Treaties, the Royal Proclamation of 1763 entrenched in Canada’s Constitution Act, the rulings of the Supreme Court, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the framework for reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, and we will serve as an ally in their dealings with Ottawa.

- Launch a public education program to build awareness about the rich history, culture, and wisdom of Indigenous peoples in Saskatchewan

- Advocate that the federal government finance native language immersion education for Indigenous children, and support immersion teacher training to build capacity to restore lost or waning Indigenous language

- Respect northern Indigenous Peoples’ aim to prevent nuclear waste storage on their ancestral land

- Recognize and support the ability of Indigenous peoples to maintain ways of living on the land that are vital to their cultures, health and well-being

-Work with Ottawa to fully implement the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission

- Enact Jordan’s Principle, which aims to make sure Indigenous children can access public services ordinarily available to other Canadian children without experiencing any service denials, delays or disruptions related to their Indigenous status.

For more information please reach out to

Remi Rheault,

Saskatchewan Green Party Vice-President 

Member of SIPAC

Moosomin-Montmartre Candidate

Email: [email protected]

or: [email protected]      

1-306-641-5751  

Or contact

Naomi Hunter

Saskatchewan Green Party Leader

Saskatoon Riversdale candidate 

[email protected]

1-306-561-8880