The Saskatchewan government and the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) affirming current harvest rights and agreeing to discuss province-wide rights in the new year.
MN-S president Glen McCallum, MN-S regional director Penny Hurton, Environment Minister Dustin Duncan and Justice Minister Don Morgan signed the MOU at a ceremony held at the Remai Modern art gallery in Saskatoon on Wednesday.
It affirms current Métis rights to hunt and fish in the province and was the first signed since 2010.
“It’s been a long time coming,” McCallum added.
Métis harvest rights have been acknowledged in court rulings, but are limited to certain areas.
“There’s so many restrictions with regards to how we can practice our way of life, our traditions, our values,” McCallum said.
“And now that we have the government sitting across from us to… hear us out, to be able to clear the path for better understanding, respect and a working partnership… I look forward to that.”
“Although it’s too early to predict what will ultimately be included in the agreement, we believe that these discussions have the potential to create a province-wide management approach that would be unique in Canada,” Duncan said.
Duncan told reporters that talks will begin with staff from both organizations before proceeding to the ministerial level.