Metis Duty-To-Consult Talks To Involve MNS Locals
Wednesday, September 05, 2007 at 14:06
Some Metis locals in northwest Saskatchewan believe they’ve received an important clarification from a provincial cabinet minister.
In a recent letter to the Buffalo Narrows-based Clearwater-Clear Lake Metis Region, First Nations and Metis Relations Minister Maynard Sonntag says the government will deal with Metis locals on any duty-to-consult discussions about development in traditional Metis territory — not municipal governments in Metis communities.
Sonntag also says the MNS and Metis regions won’t be allowed into duty-to-consult negotiations unless they’re permitted to do so by the affected Metis locals.
Clearwater-Clear Lake area director Marlene Hansen says the locals are pleased with how the province is interpreting how the courts have ruled on this issue.
Sonntag says the Supreme Court is clear that the duty-to-consult is with the rights-bearing Aboriginal community whose traditional harvesting territory is impacted.
He notes municipalities in northern Saskatchewan also represent First Nations and non-Native citizens, not just Metis.