The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations says First Nations lay claim to all critical minerals and rare earth elements on Treaty territories. This after the province introduced an amendment into the legislature today (Mon) to raise the Saskatchewan Mineral Exploration Tax Credit from 10 per cent to 30 per cent.
The FSIN says in a news release, as the province makes exploration incentives more competitive, First Nations must be included.
Chief Bobby Cameron says, “With First Nations people comprising one of the fastest growing youth populations in the province and up-and-coming workforce, we encourage the Saskatchewan government to engage in meaningful inclusion with First Nations in critical mineral mining and resource revenue sharing in the days to come. Rare earth minerals are not exclusively the property of the provincial government.” As well, investors and companies interested in mining rare earth minerals must meet with First Nations chiefs and community leaders to seek their inclusion and approval prior to extracting these non-renewable resources.
Cameron stresses that Inherent and Treaty rights need to be accommodated.