The Walking With Our Angels camp across from the legislative building drew supporters from across the province on Tuesday.It was an opportunity to voice concerns about the province’s high suicide rates and to call on the government to adopt an improved suicide prevention plan.

Assembly of First Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde says Tristen Durocher, one of the organizers of the camp, has provided hope for people who want to see more done to address suicide rates in the province.

Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Chief Bobby Cameron said they intend on creating a bill to address suicide prevention with recommendations from Indigenous peoples.

Fond du Lac Denesuline First Nation Chief Louie Mercredi has lost two brothers-in-law, a nephew and his daughter’s boyfriend to suicide.

He says all levels of government say they want to help, however he feels there is no long-term solution for his people at this time. He says they have neither the tools nor the funds to save their people.

Mercredi pointed to a study in 2017 indicating that 60 per cent of suicides in Saskatchewan happen in the Athabasca Basin with 70 per cent being men and 30 per cent being women.

Tristen Durocher says he remains strong 11 days into his hunger strike, hoping for government to pass meaningful suicide prevention legislation.

Durocher has no intentions of leaving the park until he completes his 44-day hunger strike on September 13th, referencing the 44 MLAs who voted down a suicide prevention bill introduced by the NDP earlier this year.

[ckrm aug 12 2020]