The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations is joining other First Nations in asking the province to halt the auctioning of Crown lands, as the Witchekan Lake First Nations’ claim against Saskatchewan proceeds through the court.
The Saskatoon-based political organization cites a recent court ruling against the province, which sought to dismiss the claim by Witchekan Lake.
The statement of claim in federal court accuses the province of breaching the terms of the Treaty Land Entitlement Agreement by selling off Crown Lands without giving Witchekan Lake proper notice or first right of refusal. The matter will not proceed to trial.
“By selling of Crown lands, the Province is making it very difficult for First Nations to fulfill Their Treaty Land Entitlement and Specific Claims settlement agreements, and we have less lands on which to exercise our constitutionally-protected Inherent Treaty Rights,” said Anne Thomas, Chief of the Witchekan Lake First Nation.
Last week, the Little Pine First Nation and a representative from the George Gordon First Nation joined the NDP to pressure the province to stop auctioning Crown lands.