Treaty 4 Chiefs Frustrated Over Duty To Consult

Treaty 4 Chiefs Frustrated Over Duty To Consult

Monday, July 25, 2011 at 13:51

A coalition of chiefs from the Treaty Four region are expressing their frustration at what they feel is a lack of consultation with the province over the BHP Biliton Jansen Mine project.

Chief Darrin Poorman of the Kawacatoose First Nation spoke on behalf of several communities at an FSIN press conference in Saskatoon on Friday.

Poorman says they are not against business opportunities but First Nations rights are being ignored.

Poorman says BHP is known for consultations with indigenous people in other provinces and other parts of the world but the Saskatchewan government is not legally reinforcing the consultation process.

The chief says the other First Nations involved in the coalition include Daystar, Beardy’s and Okemasis, George Gordon, Fishing Lake and Muskowekwan.