Questions Remain About Indigenous Consultation on the Sale of Crown Land in Saskatchewan | The Canadian News

The critic of the Saskatchewan NDP opposition for First Nations and Métis relations, truth and reconciliation is asking the province to question its rationale for selling Crown lands without properly consulting with indigenous communities.

Betty Nippi-Albright said that in terms of framework or policy, the province has an outdated document from 2013 on the duty to consult and commitment that does not incorporate the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action or the Declaration of the United Nations on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). ).

“We need a document, a policy that is respectful and meaningful for indigenous peoples and that is written from (a) Euro-indigenous perspective,” he said. “Society in this province … we always talk about treaties, we talk about lip service treaties, but we see this government auction off these Crown lands.”

Read more:

Saskatchewan Crown Land Sale Battle Goes To Trial, Says FSIN

The story continues below the ad.

Nippi-Albright says the concerns of indigenous communities will continue if the province continues to auction off Crown land.

Saskatchewan Government Relations Minister Don McMorris said the concerns he has heard are broad, adding that the consultation process has been underway for 10 years and is under review.

“I can tell you that I heard from First Nations communities for sure that they are not happy with the way the consultation process works,” said McMorris. “I have heard from the industry that they are not happy with how the consultation process is working. I’m not sure it’s always been easy, but I know there is some concern now and so we will look into it as we go. “

Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Agriculture said on the issue of Crown land sales in the province last month that it notifies the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) in advance of the sale auctions so that the First Nations of the Treaty on Land Rights (TLE) can participate. in the process of auctioning land.

The FSIN sent a statement to Global Regina saying that the agriculture minister initially said that the province would notify FSIN, which could notify First Nations, but after notifying FSIN about some of the sales, the ministry also stopped notifying the FSIN. FSIN.

Read more:

FSIN says First Nations are considering taking legal action to stop Sask. Crown land sale

The story continues below the ad.

“When FSIN becomes aware of sales, often through social media, FSIN sends the information to First Nations,” FSIN Deputy Chief Heather Bear said in the statement. “First Nations are concerned that these sales are not consistent with the province’s obligations to TLE First Nations under their respective treaty land rights resolution agreements.”

FSIN adds that First Nations also argue that they must be granted the first right of denial before Crown lands are put up for auction, and that when the province arbitrarily sells Crown lands, there is much concern that First Nations Nations may not have the ability to exercise their rights on those lands to which they have had access.

“Before any land is auctioned, the Province must ensure that it consults with all nations whose inherent and Treaty rights may be affected,” said Bear.

© 2021 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.



Reference-globalnews.ca

Leave a Comment