The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) issued a statement condemning a billboard in Radisson, Saskatchewan, saying the message undermines First Nations rights and promotes division.
FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron said the billboard’s reference to First Nations hunting rights is particularly concerning.
“Our people have hunted, fished, trapped and gathered on these lands since long before Saskatchewan or Canada existed,” said Chief Cameron. “These are not privileges handed to First Nations by government. They are inherent practices and Treaty rights protected by our ancestors. When a billboard singles out our hunting rights and presents them as unfair treatment, we understand the message behind it. It creates resentment toward First Nations people for exercising constitutionally protected rights. We have seen where that kind of thinking leads, and there is no place for it in Saskatchewan today.”
Vice Chief Fabian Head described the message as reflecting harmful views about Indigenous peoples.
“This billboard reflects an old and deeply troubling racism, the belief that First Nations people should have been assimilated and that our continued existence as distinct peoples with inherent and Treaty rights is somehow a failure,” said FSIN Vice Chief Fabian Head. “That message encourages negative public attitudes toward First Nations people and creates resentment toward us simply for being who we are. In my view, messaging deliberately intended to promote that kind of hatred and division should be treated seriously and investigated to determine whether it crosses the threshold into hate-motivated criminal conduct.”
Prince Albert Grand Council Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte emphasized that Treaty rights are legally recognized promises made between Nations and the Crown.
“Treaty rights are not special treatment, and they are not up for public approval,” said Prince Albert Grand Council Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte. “Our ancestors entered Treaty as Nations. Those promises did not disappear because some people find our rights inconvenient. First Nations will not apologize for exercising our Treaty rights, and we will not accept calls – direct or implied – for our people to assimilate. We are still here. Our Treaties are still here. And we will defend them and our nations.”
FSIN said while freedom of expression is important, public messaging that encourages division between First Nations and non-First Nations people is harmful.
The organization is also calling on the billboard company to remove the advertisement and is encouraging Saskatchewan residents to promote respect, understanding, and the Treaty relationship.