Prairie Province FNs Leaders Meeting

Prairie Province FNs Leaders Meeting

Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 15:27

First Nations leaders from Northern Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are meeting in Winnipeg today.

At issue is the future of natural resources and a desire for bands to get out from under the Natural Resources Transfer Agreement of 1930.

David Harper is the chief of Northern Manitoba’s tribal group, better known as M.K.O.

He says constitutional experts, lawyers and First Nations delegates are trying to come up with a strategy to reclaim treaty rights over resources.

He says for too long big corporations have had their way at the expense of bands.

Harper adds First Nations hunters need multiple licenses to shoot a moose, but corporations need very little to start drilling.

Groups at this week’s event also include the Prince Albert Grand Council and Treaty 8 First Nations from Alberta.