First Nations Plot Strategy On Resource Benefits

First Nations Plot Strategy On Resource Benefits

Monday, March 29, 2010 at 16:15

First Nations elders and leaders are meeting in Saskatoon this week in hopes of ensuring they get a fair share of resource wealth in this province and country.

Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Chief Guy Lonechild says First Nations were not consulted when $30 million and land were transferred from the federal government to the province in December.

He says First Nations war veterans need to be fairly compensated, and wealth in general needs to be more evenly distributed.

Lonechild says resource revenue is an option First Nations are interested in exploring.

In the past, the province has said no to the idea — but Lonechild says the previous First Nations and Metis Relations Minister, June Draude, was willing to at least talk about it.

He hopes to reopen that discussion at their next bilateral meeting, which he says should be happening soon.