'We will blockade': FSIN chiefs threaten action in response to Saskatchewan First Act
More than 30 first nation chiefs from across the province gathered in Saskatoon Friday to denounce the recently introduced Saskatchewan First Act and threaten action beyond meetings and negotiations.
"We're about to the point where we start blockading," Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) Bobby Cameron said.
Chiefs gathered at the FSIN offices on Friday said the act breaches inherent treaty rights, and blockades are being organized in the new year, but none of the chiefs would say specifically when or where they will be placed.
"Let's enjoy a good Christmas, a good break, rest up and let's get at 'em in the new year," Chief Evan Taypotat of Kahkewistahaw First Nation said. "Because enough is enough."
The Saskatchewan First Act was introduced in November after years of struggles between the province and Ottawa surrounding Saskatchewan's autonomy.
The province said the act confirms "Saskatchewan's autonomy and exclusive jurisdiction over its natural resources."
"This historic legislation will help protect our economic growth and prosperity from intrusive federal policies that encroach upon our legislative sovereignty," Justice Minister Bronwyn Eyre said in a news release announcing the act.
Cameron is galvanizing support for chiefs not just opposing the bill itself, but everything it could stand for moving forward.
"Because we want to ensure our future generations are left with something. That they're left with a better life than we have had," Cameron said.
Chief Margaret Bear of Ochapawace First Nation said the treaties in place were agreed with the Crown and predate the province. Before the province tries getting its share of natural resource revenue, it should honour the treaties.
"We are the original rate holders of this land. No policy or act is going to tell us different. We will not sit back by the sidelines while two foreign parties continue to steal our resources from our backyard," Bear said.
"And Saskatchewan has the gall to think they have the rights and exclusive ownership of our natural resources."
Cameron said legal action is also being pursued as FSIN is working on a statement of claim, which could take "several years" to work its way through the justice system.
Many of the chiefs here mentioned the provincial Natural Resources Transfer Agreement from the 1930 and the federal 1969 white paper, which proposed to eliminate Indian status, as two damaging pieces of legislation in the past.
These Chiefs see similarities between those and the Saskatchewan First Act as the latest piece of legislation to attack inherent treaty rights.
"This Bill asserts the exclusive jurisdiction of Saskatchewan over laws with respect to matters set out in sections 92 and 92A and does not restrict or limit existing First Nations rights," a statement from the provincial government said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.