Saskatchewan New Democrats reiterated their call Monday for the Sask Party government to halt the upcoming online Crown Land Lease Auction and meaningfully consult with First Nations.

In addition, the N-D-P called on the government to stop the sell-off and lease of Crown Lands, codify the Duty to Consult framework in legislation and stop the displacement of Indigenous peoples from their traditional gathering territories. Sask Party Ministers have admitted that their Duty to Consult framework is outdated and ineffective.

“Consultation, if it is happening at all, is minimal at best,” said the Opposition Critic for First Nation and Metis Relations Betty Nippi-Albright. “The lack of meaningful consultation is a hallmark of this Sask Party government.”

Nippi-Albright was joined at the Legislature Monday by Okimaw Henry Lewis from Onion Lake Cree Nation, the Council of Onion Lake Cree Nation and Indigenous leaders from across the province (pictured). Leaders from Onion Lake say they were not properly notified of the online auction but were first made aware of it after visiting the Government’s website.