(Whitecap Dakota First Nation, Saskatchewan) Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree is scheduled to apologize to nine First Nations in Manitoba and Saskatchewan on Monday after decades of Canada labeling the Dakota and Lakota nations as refugees.
Mr. Anandasangaree’s apology, which will be delivered at a ceremony in the Whitecap Dakota Nation, south of Saskatoon, is being described as “historic” by officials.
By being labeled refugees, the Dakota and Lakota nations were not included in treaty negotiations because Canada considered their members to be Americans despite their strong presence north of the Canada-U.S. border.
These nations have historically had a more strained relationship with Canada, partly due to smaller reserves and less economic support than other Indigenous communities.
The Whitecap Dakota First Nation signed a self-government agreement with Canada in 2023, which officially recognized them as Indigenous peoples under the Constitution.
It also recognized the ability of the Whitecap Dakota to legislate on reserves.