The Saskatchewan government and the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) have agreed on guidelines for conservation officers to enter reserve land.
Under the guidelines that were endorsed on Monday, each First Nation will designate a point person for conservation officers to contact before entering reserve land for law enforcement purposes.
“The guidelines speak to a shared commitment to protecting and respecting our natural resources and to the continued co-operation between First Nations and government,” Environment Minister Scott Moe said.
“By sharing information, working together, and respecting the authority of each jurisdiction, we will ensure the ongoing success of this relationship.”
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The guidelines were endorsed by the FSIN in May 2016.
“The new set of guidelines recognizes, respects and abides by our Treaty right to hunting, fishing, trapping and gathering,” FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron said.
“This is an example of how an issue can be resolved as long as the governments are willing to work together.”
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If the point person is not available during an emergency, they would be notified as soon as possible along with the rationale for entering the reserve.
Both the Ministry of Environment and the FSIN said they will continue to address practical operation issues where there is a shared interest.
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