The provincial NDP says the duty to consult on changes to the Duty to Consult policy have not been happening the way they should be. About a month ago, the province announced the Duty to Consult policy would be refreshed through consultations. Critic for First Nations and Metis Relations, Betty Nippi-Albright, says the consultations have been by email and an online survey rather than meeting First Nations and Metis leadership in person.
She notes that the Duty to Consult is a policy and should instead by enshrined in legislation, because, “Policy is not enforceable. Legislation is.” Nippi-Albright explains that currently, it’s up to the government to assess whether a projects triggers the Duty to Consul with no input from the impacted First Nation community.
Chief Henry Lewis of Onion Lake Cree Nation says Treaties were entered into before Saskatchewan was a province. Their Treaties are the law of the land and the government should meet with First Nations leaders when policies affect them. He believes Crown land sales are a violation of Treaty rights, saying they have never agreed to sell or give away their land. On behalf of Onion Lake, Chief Lewis asks for a moratorium on the process to be implemented as soon as possible, and if needed, Onion Lake’s leadership will order a judicial review.
(CJWW)