A battle is brewing over the possible development of some lakefront property at Fur Lakes near Shellbrook.
Right now, the land is owned by the province and is protected from development.
However, the Mistawasis First Nation wants to buy the land to build cabins and develop the property.
The final say is up to the provincial Environment and Agriculture ministries.
Environmental groups are already stepping up trying to put a stop to it.
Lorne Scott is with Nature Saskatchewan, and is a former Saskatchewan environment minister.
He says the land should be kept in the public domain:
“The idea is that the rest of the area will be protected, but what we know is that leaderships change in all societies, all organizations — and then the protection for the rest of the area might not be there 20 years from now.”
The Fur Lakes region is dense forest area home to many species of of birds and other wildlife.