FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron and Environment Minister Scott Moe sign off to protect wildlife. Photo by Manfred Joehnck
The provincial Environment Department and the FSIN have signed a protocol agreement for investigating hunting and fishing regulations on First Nations lands.
Earlier this year, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations passed a resolution setting out guidelines on treaty rights to hunt, fish, trap and gather.
Today, there was a formal signing of an agreement at the legislature.
Under the terms of the agreement, each First Nation is asked to designate a person for conservation officers to contact before entering reserve land to conduct investigations. Ultimately, the First Nation will have the final say.
FSIN chief Bobby Cameron says it is important for governments to work together.
“Whether its hunting, fishing, gathering or education or housing or more recently suicides in the north, we have to work together to improve the quality of lives for our people, whether they are First Nation or non-First Nation,” he said.
Environment Minister Scott Moe says there is a shared commitment to work together to respect natural resources including wildlife.
“It’s about clarity and it’s about communication and I think it speaks to the collaboration to date between the Government of Saskatchewan and our First Nations communities,” he said.
Today’s agreement formalizes guidelines that are already in place between the ministry and a number of First Nations.