Lac La Ronge Indian Band

LLRIB pushes back as Ottawa signals broader consultation on Indian Act cutoff

(Treaty 6 Territory, Woodland Cree) Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Sask. – The Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) is pressing Ottawa to immediately adopt a one-parent rule, warning broader consultation on registration reform must not delay ending what the Nation calls ongoing discrimination against First Nations families.

"Our people are our people. No law should tell us otherwise," said Chief Tammy Cook-Searson. "The one-parent rule is a practical and immediate step Canada can take now while broader reform continues."

The call comes after the Office of Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty confirmed Ottawa is considering options beyond the single-parent rule amendment proposed in Bill S-2, with further consultation planned this summer before legislation moves forward.

LLRIB said consultation with First Nations is important, but it cannot become another mechanism for delay.

The second-generation cutoff, created through 1985 amendments to the Indian Act, limits the ability of some First Nations people to pass status to their children after two successive generations of parenting with non-status individuals. LLRIB said the policy continues a colonial pattern of reducing the number of status Indians over time, with real impacts on families, identity, citizenship and access to services.

Within LLRIB, families have been divided under federal registration rules, with siblings and cousins treated differently. Many members now face the possibility that their children and grandchildren will lose status entirely.

“This rule has divided families and denied children their identity,” said Chief Cook-Searson. “It tells some of our children they belong, and others that they do not. That is deeply harmful, and it interferes with our inherent responsibility to determine who belongs to our Nation.”

Earlier this year, LLRIB held engagement sessions with Elders, members and leadership across its communities. The Nation said members strongly supported a one-parent rule, which would allow a child to be registered if one parent is entitled to status.

Members told leadership that identity and belonging are rooted in ancestry, family, history and responsibility to future generations — not federal paperwork.

The Office of Minister Mandy Gull-Masty said Bill S-2 would immediately restore status to 3,500 people and responds to the Nicholas case, which challenged the Indian Act’s enfranchisement provisions. The minister’s office said Ottawa has accelerated its collaborative process with Indigenous organizations to address the second-generation cutoff, with broader consultation planned this summer.

LLRIB said those steps do not remove Canada’s responsibility to act now on known discrimination.

The Nation also said the current registration system has masked the true size of First Nations populations, contributing to long-standing underfunding in housing, education, health care and other essential services. Legislative reform must be backed by funding that reflects actual population size.

“We will always assert our inherent right to determine our own membership,” said Chief Cook-Searson. “But while Canada continues to control registration under its laws, it has a responsibility to ensure those laws are fair. Ending known discrimination cannot wait.”

LLRIB urged members to help address stray dog concerns

The Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) would like to assure all community members that we are actively addressing the ongoing issue of stray and roaming dogs across our communities.

Between January 1 and April 10, 2026, LLRIB Animal Control has successfully apprehended and re-homed 103 stray dogs, placing them in safe homes in southern Saskatchewan. In 2025, LLRIB apprehended and re-homed 175 stray dogs. This work is ongoing and reflects the Band’s commitment to improving public safety and animal welfare.

LLRIB has an Animal Care and Control Bylaw, ratified by Chief and Council in May 2024, which is actively being enforced. Our Animal Control Officers are working daily—including weekends and statutory holidays—to apprehend, impound, and care for stray dogs. Our current facility has a maximum capacity of 10 dogs, and staff provide daily feeding, watering, and care under often challenging conditions.

While enforcement efforts continue, it is important for all community members to understand that the root cause of the stray dog issue is uncontrolled breeding. Dogs that are not spayed or neutered will continue to reproduce. When a female dog is in heat, it attracts multiple unneutered male dogs, often forming packs. This natural behavior can create dangerous situations for the dog, nearby residents, and the community at large.

LLRIB has spay and neuter clinics available at no cost to dog owners, yet participation remains a critical challenge. Without responsible ownership, the dog population will continue to grow and pose increasing risks, including the potential for serious incidents.

The Band is currently exploring solutions to strengthen its response, including:

•Increasing Animal Control staffing levels
•Constructing a larger, more suitable dog pound facility
•Partnering with the tri-community to coordinate regional efforts
However, lasting change depends on the actions of dog owners and community members.

We strongly urge all residents to:

•Spay or neuter your dogs
•Keep your dogs under control at all times
•Limit the number of dogs in your care to a manageable level

This is a shared responsibility. By working together, we can create a safer, healthier environment for both people and animals in our communities.

For more information or to access spay/neuter services, please contact LLRIB Animal Control at [email protected], or call the office at 306-425-2884.

Let’s all do our part.

🗓️Please note: Times and dates for Saskatoon and Prince Albert will be posted once they are confirmed. Please watch for updates!

📸 Hall Lake Swearing-In Ceremony – April 27, 2026

Hall Lake came together on Monday, April 27, at the Hall Lake Community Hall for a local swearing-in ceremony for Chief Tammy Cook-Searson and Councillor Joseph Ratt.

Also sworn in was Elder Leonard Halkett, representing Hall Lake and Morin Lake on the Council of Elders, recognized for his role in providing guidance and leadership within LLRIB.

The ceremony brought leadership home — giving community members the opportunity to witness the oaths of office.

📷 Take a look through some highlights from Hall Lake, capturing the people and moments that made the day meaningful.

📸 Sucker River Swearing-In Ceremony – April 27, 2026

Sucker River welcomed leadership on Monday, April 27, as community members gathered at the Sucker River Community Hall for a local swearing-in ceremony recognizing both Chief Tammy Cook-Searson and Councillor Korrie Ratt.

Sucker River’s Elder Angelique Ratt was also sworn in, recognized for her role in providing guidance and leadership within the Lac La Ronge Indian Band.

Witnessing the oaths of office in the community brings leadership closer to the people — grounding it in the voices, values, and support of those they serve.

📷 These photos capture the spirit of the day, from the swearing-in to the gathering of community members who came out in support.