The Government of Saskatchewan is asking for a court order to remove the Justice For Our Stolen Children camp in Regina’s Wascana Centre.
The province is taking legal action against members of the camp and Regina Police Chief Evan Bray, according to court documents that were filed Tuesday at Regina’s Court of Queen’s Bench.
“It is important to stress that we are not asking the court to stop the group from protesting,” reads a statement from Minister of Central Services Ken Cheveldayoff sent to CBC News in an email Thursday.
“In a democracy, people and groups have the right to protest and we respect this group’s right to protest. The Wascana Park bylaws prohibit unauthorized overnight camping, erecting and maintaining structures, and burning combustibles, and we are asking that these bylaws be enforced,” it reads.
Between 20 to 30 people are camping in the west side of Regina’s Wascana Park in teepees facing the Legislative Assembly. Protesters are demanding that the government make changes to the justice system and address what the protesters call an overrepresentation of Indigenous children in foster care.
In June, six campers were arrested when Regina Police dismantled the camp. No charges were laid, and those arrested were released hours later.
The campers rebuilt shortly after the arrests. Fifteen teepees had been raised as of Thursday morning.
The documents filed by the government ask the court to direct the campers to “cease occupying the Land” and that any orders made “be directed to the Chief of Police of the Regina Police Service.”
In the statement sent to CBC, Cheveldayoff said if the order is granted the government expects the police to help with enforcement.
‘We’ve been here for 142 days’
Prescott Demas helped establish the camp. He was one of those arrested and is named in the suit.
“I would rather the province forget about these simple little bylaws that they are trying to claim we are illegal here and to focus on the issues as to why we’ve been here. We’ve been here for 142 days and all they say is, ‘They’re here illegal, they’re here illegal,’ ” he said Thursday.
“Why don’t they come out, why don’t they address the issues that we’re talking about?”
The camp launched its own legal action on Monday. It is asking the court for a declaration that the protest is protected under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and that the June arrests were unconstitutional.
The Ministry of Justice expects the application for the government’s court order will be heard the same time of the justice camp’s legal action, for which a hearing date is set Aug. 23.
Teepees have been set up in Saskatoon and Winnipeg in solidarity with the Regina camp.
More to come.