Chief Bobby Cameron. Photo by Manfred Joehnck.
Federation of Sovereign Nations Chief Bobby Cameron says illegal outfitting in the province goes well beyond First Nations, and it’s a point he will be making clear when he meets with Environment Minister Scott Moe later this month.
The issue came up last month at the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation conference in Regina, where the director of compliance said it was a growing problem on some First Nations, particularly in the Meadow Lake, Battleford areas.
Cameron says there is a problem, but it is not isolated to First Nations.
“Here is an issue that is going to hit the fan,” he said.
“We have non-resident people that are buying up land in Saskatchewan and guess what they are doing? They are bringing in people from out of the province to hunt animals, and that is illegal outfitting and we are going to address that.”
Cameron made the comments to MBC News during an interview on Wednesday.
The provincial Ministry of Environment indicated it may limit the number of export permits for game taken by out-of-province hunters in an effort to curb illegal outfitting.
Most of the clients are American. In the province, 31 First Nations operate outfitting companies.
This all comes several months after Manitoba Premier Brian Palliser made controversial comments about the First Nations right to hunt. He called night hunting, which is covered by the treaty right to hunt for sustenance, a “dumb practice.” Palliser also took aim at what he perceives as overhunting by Indigenous people.