Northern suicides ‘big priority’ for Sask’s new children’s advocate – StarPhoenix
As the province reels from six recent suicides in the north, Saskatchewan’s new children’s advocate began his first day on the job by saying he’ll make the safety of youth on First Nations and in northern communities a “big priority.”
In the Legislature on Monday, Premier Brad Wall said he supports Corey O’Soup’s decision to focus first on “the plight of northern youth.”
A member of the Key First Nation, O’Soup said he’ll travel north to meet with community members and youth “as soon as possible.” He said the inclusion of First Nations leaders and youth is critical to developing immediate and long-term solutions to the crisis after six girls took their own lives.
“The only way that we can do it properly is to include us at the table right from the beginning and to be a part of the creation of policies, of programs, of documents (and) interventions,” he said.
