New Lieutenant Governor looks to build Indigenous relationships
- NC Raine | April 30, 2018
Building Indigenous relationships with the Crown is among the foremost priorities for new Lieutenant Governor Thomas Molloy.
Lawyer and negotiator, 77-year-old Molloy was sworn in on March 21st as the Saskatchewan’s 22nd Lieutenant Governor. A Saskatoon native, Molloy has rich history with working with First Nations and Indigenous across Canada on agreements and treaty settlements. Molloy was the chief negotiator for the Government of Canada in the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement, leading to the creation of Nunavut in 1999.
As Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, Molloy is the viceregal representative in Saskatchewan of the Canadian monarch Queen Elizabeth II, and is responsible for carrying out the monarch’s ceremonial and constitutional duties, as well as offer advice to government when needed. Molloy was appointed by the Governor General on the recommendation of prime minster Justin Trudeau, who in a release that Molloy “helped to reshape this country.”
“There has always been a special relationship between the crown and Indigenous people in Canada, going back to when the first treaties were signed,” Molloy told Eagle Feather News.
“I think that the relationship [between the Crown and Indigenous people] is important because through relationships you can build trust, understanding, and help each other move forward.”
Molloy said he will spend his first few months listening and learning from communities around Saskatchewan. His background, he said, has provided him with a deeper appreciation of Indigenous culture and the potential that exists within their communities.
“That’s something I’ve been doing my entire career; meeting with First Nations and trying to understand their culture, the importance of the environment, the importance of the resources on the land, and how development and culture go hand in hand,” said Molloy.
On his first day, he sought council from National Chief of First Nations Perry Bellegarde, who agrees that relationships between First Nations and the Crown need to be strong.
“We’re all treaty people, we always talk about peaceful coexistence, and mutual respect, (...) and mutually benefiting from sharing the land and resource wealth of not only Saskatchewan and all of Canada,” Bellegarde told reporters following his meeting with Molloy.
As developing relationships with Indigenous people is an important consideration for Molloy, he and his team have discussed, as part of their strategic planning, the possibility of forming an advisory committee to the Lieutenant Governor.
“I’d be interested in meeting with a variety of communities throughout the province, whether it be education, youth, athletes, or whomever. I’m interested in hearing from them and what I may be able to do to assist them,” said Molloy.
He has also said that he would also like to draw more attention to environmental concerns, as well as working to eliminate racism; issues which require inclusive discussion.
“I’ve always believed that you’ll that never find a solution to any problem unless there is discussion between the parties – and in [the role of Lieutenant Governor], I might be able to contribute to that [solution],” he said.
Premier Scott Moe has also endorsed Molloy’s appointment, saying in a statement: “Looking at the impact of Thomas’ life work to our province, our nation, and more specifically, to Indigenous Peoples across our country, I am confident he will continue with that tradition.”
Molloy replaces Vaughn Solomon Schofield, and will serve as Lieutenant Governor for a minimum of five years.