The province and Métis Nation-Saskatchewan are looking to achieve a workable agreement on what traditional harvesting rights might mean in practice.
The two parties signed a memorandum of understanding on the issue Wednesday in Saskatoon.
The MOU seeks to bring clarity to Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution and how it may apply to Métis hunting and fishing rights.
Environment Minister Dustin Duncan said the agreement also seeks to find a greater understanding on how past court rulings on Métis hunting rights, such as the 2003 Supreme Court Powley decision, might work in Saskatchewan.
“We’ve also had in the case of Métis rights, we’ve had a Supreme Court decision that, you know, I think from the view the province in terms of the resource management perspective was a little bit hard to administer based on the Supreme Court decision,” he said.
MN-S President Glen McCallum said agreements such as this one are all about relationship building.
“People ask, ‘What is an MOU?,’” he said. “It’s an understanding between two governments to begin discussions around whatever issue we might have. Specifically this one has to do with harvesting.”
The two sides last signed an agreement on harvesting in 2010.
The MN-S says the agreement will be available on its website in coming days.
The MOU was signed at the Remai Modern Art Gallery.
(PHOTO: Saskatchewan Environment Minister Dustin Duncan, left, and Métis Nation-Saskatchewan President Glen McCallum, right, sign a memorandum of understanding on traditional harvesting rights. Photo by Fraser Needham.)