Citing lack of consultation, Saskatchewan Indigenous leaders gathered at the Legislature Thursday to voice their concerns about the Saskatchewan First Act and the selling off of Crown lands. Metis Nation-Saskatchewan and the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations were protesting the vote being taken to bring the Saskatchewan First Act from proposed legislation to reality. Bill 88 is now going before the Lieutenant Governor for Royal Assent.
Official Opposition Critic for First Nations and Metis Relations, Betty Nippi-Albright says there has been no consultation on the Saskatchewan First Act nor on the selling off of Crown lands. In Question Period at the Legislature Thursday she said the lack of consultation shows that the government needs to enshrine the Duty to Consult into law, which is what her Private Members Bill does. Justice Minister Bronwyn Eyre replied that an amendment at a committee meeting Wednesday night explicitly states that the Saskatchewan First Act in no way overturns the inherent and treaty rights of Indigenous people.
Nippi-Albright says the government has no respect for Inherent and Treaty rights questioning the merit in having the right to hunt, fish and hold ceremonies on Crown land if there is no land to do it on – with what she says are thousands of acres of Crown land already sold off. Government Relations Minister, Don McMorris, said that the government has been engaged with First Nations and Metis about the Duty To Consult legislation, and from that, he expects there will be changes in the near future.
The Chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations says they will be taking the government to court over the Saskatchewan First Act. Bobby Cameron states that the Act claims exclusive ownership of natural resources, which shows a complete disregard for First Nations Inherent and Treaty Rights to land, water and resources. He explains that Treaties take precedence and pre-date the creation of the government, and it has been an accepted practice in other provinces to recognize Treaty Rights and implement resource revenue-sharing policies. Cameron wants this to also become standard practice in Saskatchewan. He adds that the Saskatchewan First Act disregards the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, which has been recognized by Canada.
Vice President of Metis Nation-Saskatchewan, Michelle LeClair, says the provincial government chose to ignore the voice of the Metis Nation by passing the “short-sighted, dismissive” Saskatchewan First Act. She says the MN-S has issued public statements and sent letters expressing opposition, but the government refused to meaningfully engage with them. LeClair says, “The Saskatchewan First Act is a prime example of the government’s abject failure to adequately consult as required by Canada’s constitution with our Nation and our citizens.” She believes prosperity for the whole province will not be achieved through the denial of inherent rights and the refusal to meaningfully consult with the MN-S government.
