First Nations want faster resolution on agreements
First Nations wanting to earn their own revenues hope the provincial government will improve the process of Crown land purchases to fulfil Treaty Land Entitlement agreements.
Chief Bobby Cameron of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) expressed frustration with the Saskatchewan Party government over the slow progress in selling Crown pasture lands.
“We’ve been asking for a much speedier process than it is now,” Cameron said.
Although many First Nations have successfully purchased lands and obtained reserve status for them, others are wondering why it is taking so long for the government to transfer their purchased lands, Cameron said.
Some First Nations have selected Crown pasture lands being released for sale from the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) and have the support of farmers using the lands, but they find the process is stalled because there seems to be no process to complete the sales, he said.
“The PFRA is a pretty sensitive subject because of the TLE agreement in the 1990s. It stated that any TLE and Specific Claim lands would have first right of refusal on any provincial and federal crown lands, and that’s not happening,” Cameron said.
Minister of Government Relations Jim Reiter suggested the delay is not caused by the government but by First Nations and pasture users who haven’t completed their obligations under the TLE framework agreement.
“As part of the framework agreement, consideration has to be given to the current occupants of the land. The process does allow for those TLE selections to be made and then the Ministry of Agriculture would have to follow the framework agreement ... It’s pretty comprehensive, so there’d be a lot of steps,” Reiter said.
FIRST NATIONS WANT ALL ON-RESERVE CASINO REVENUES
First Nations will seek to keep 100 per cent of casino revenues when the framework gaming agreement comes up for renewal in 2017, Cameron said.
“We give the province 25 per cent of our SIGA revenues. We want, eventually, to get 100 per cent of our moneys because we don’t receive a dime of royalties from SaskTel, SaskPower or SaskEnergy, yet they do business in every one of our communities in Saskatchewan,” he said.
First Nations need to generate their own revenue to address housing shortages, underfunded First Nations child and family services agencies and services for elders and youth, he noted.
Reiter said he hasn’t thought about the gaming agreement yet and it would be “premature” to comment on the province’s attitude toward the First Nations suggestion.
IT’S TIME FOR RESOURCE REVENUE SHARING, CAMERON SAYS
Where First Nations members have instructed their leaders to develop natural resources, such as potash, uranium, oil and gas, on their lands, First Nations should be “full partners when it comes to resource development on our First Nations lands,” Cameron said.
“We know our premier’s stance on that, but maybe now is the time,” he said referring to Brad Wall’s position there will be “no special deals for any group.”
Reiter said the province is aware of its duty to consult First Nations but he did not promise any change to the government’s position.
“Resource consultation is about relationships. We’re going to work hard to have a good relationship with individual First Nations and the FSIN. The province, we understand and totally respect our duty to consult responsibilities,” he said.
HOUSING, EDUCATION, HEALTH ONGOING CONCERNS
The FSIN will lobby the province to help cities build affordable housing to benefit all low income people, including First Nations and immigrants. The federation estimates 40,000 members of Saskatchewan’s 74 First Nations live in Saskatoon.
Cameron said he is pleased with some advances in education achieved by partnerships with the province, such as including First Nations schools in the province’s Microsoft Licensing agreement — which eliminates an expense for the schools — bringing driver education to on-reserve schools and programs to get parents more involved in the schools.
He is also proud of an agreement signed with Education Minister Don Morgan that on-reserve education is in chiefs’ and councils’ jurisdiction, it’s the federal Crown’s responsibility and the Saskatchewan government will look to First Nations educators and organizations for input and advice on how to improve graduation rates.
The province also has a role to play in health care for First Nations people, Cameron said, noting that over-prescription of methadone has become a major problem in some areas.