Hi everyone,

At yesterday’s press conference myself, Vice Chief Kim Beaudin of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, and Senator Kim Pate provided an update on the Quewezance case and called on the Saskatchewan Minister of Justice to:

-Immediately stop their attempt to muzzle the press

-Support Odelia and Nerissa’s application to the federal government to quash their convictions

-Release Odelia and Nerissa on bail pending the federal Justice Minister’s decision

We also posted Saskatchewan Minister of Justice, Bronwyn Eyre's contact information and urged attendees to call or email the Minister’s office directly.

Just hours after, I received an email from the Assistant Deputy Attorney General of Saskatchewan, Anthony Gerein, stating that there is “procedure to follow and objective principles to apply” in the sisters’ case. 

But as we all know from this case, Saskatchewan has a history of following a procedure of systemic racism towards Indigenous people. The Premier of Saskatchewan also emailed me back, indicating that "it would not be appropriate to comment on decisions made by the courts" and instead forwarded my email to Bronwyn Eyre, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, "for her information and consideration". This needs to end and the province needs to take a meaningful step toward reconciliation by allowing Odelia and Nerissa to return home.

As I was preparing to post this update, I received word that the Quewezance bail hearing set to take place on November 24 and 25 in Yorkton, Saskatchewan has been delayed after the Crown pushed for a publication ban and sealing order. Those dates are now given over to a press freedom challenge. The new bail hearing is rescheduled for January 17-18, 2023. Yet another delay prompted by the Saskatchewan government to keep these indigenous women locked up.

We have Saskatchewan’s attention — now is the time to keep the pressure on. Could you take a few minutes to call or email the Saskatchewan Minister of Justice and tell them it’s time to end the Quewezance sister’s wrongful imprisonment? The more people call, the harder it will be for the province to ignore.

Bronwyn Eyre:
Phone:    306-787-5353
Email: jus.minister@gov.sk.ca

Thank you again for your support, 

Nicole