The John Cochrane First Nation in the Cumberland House region is not giving up in its long fight to be recognized as a separate Indian band with treaty rights.
It has been fighting the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations for five years to be accepted into the FSIN membership — now it has taken its claim to the courts.
The band has filed a statement of claim against the FSIN, including chief Perry Bellegarde, claiming it mishandled a lawfully vetted decision supporting its membership into the federation.
The chief of the John Cochrane band, John Dorion, says granting the band treaty status gives it more power and authority when dealing with Ottawa.
He also says they need the support of the FSIN.
“All the doors are shut on us, but we are not giving up. And we have to go through the courts — we are going to do that, but that was not my intention. It took us five years to get to where we are.”
Yesterday, Bellegarde announced his decision to run for the leadership of the Assembly of First Nations. Dorion says during his announcement, Bellegarde said he wants to see Aboriginal rights and title honoured and recognized. Dorion says that is not happening in the case of his band.
The band’s statement of claim was filed in Saskatoon Court of Queen’s bench a couple of months ago.
The FSIN has not yet responded to it, although it has said in the past that the John Cochrane band is not a recognized band under the Indian Act.