The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations welcomes a federal court decision on the Government of Saskatchewan’s sale of Crown lands.

In October of 2019 the Witchekan Lake First Nation filed a statement of claim arguing the province had breached the terms of the Saskatchewan Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement, by selling Crown lands without providing the First Nation proper notice or first right of refusal.

Then, the province filed a summary judgment seeking dismissal, but the judge dismissed the motion and ordered the province to pay the First Nation’s court costs. The matter is now proceeding to trial.

Interim FSIN Chief Clarence Bellegarde says not only do First Nations need notice of Crown lands coming up for sale, he worries that if the government continues to sell off these lands there will nothing left to fulfill the Treaty Land Entitlement Agreements and other Specific Land Claim Settlements.