Mtis Nation President Robert Doucette welcomes judge's ruling

The President of the MtisNation-Saskatchewan (MN-S) is celebrating a judge's decision ordering the group to meet by this summer.

In a written decision, Justice Brian Scherman saidthe MN-S musthold a legislative assemblyon or before June 19.

Aboriginal Affairs has frozen any paymentsto the Metis Nation-Saskatchewanuntil that meeting takes place. Last week, all employees at the organization's head office were laid off, as there was no money to pay them.

"It's time to get the work done," said MN-S President Robert Doucette. "Let's do this for the benefit of Mtispeople."

The MtisNation has been wracked by political infighting for decades.

Opponents of Doucette had originally set the assembly to meet in September. However, Justice Sherman said waiting until the fall was unnecessary, and would 'irreparably damage' the organization.

Both sides in the battle have voiced a willingness to meet with each other, although nothinghas been arranged.

Vice-president considers appeal

Vice-President Gerald Morin disagreedwith the judge's decision, and said he is considering an appeal. Judges such asScherman shouldn't interfere in Mtispolitics, he said.

"It reminds me of the old colonial, traditional, historic Department of Indian Affairs approach of saying, 'You don't know what you're doing,'" Morin said after the ruling.

Doucette, on the other hand, maintainsitisessential that the work of the MtisNation-Saskatchewan get underway.

"All of our issues that need to be dealt with, the housing issues, the employment issues, the harvesting issues need to be addressed," he said.

An official date for the assembly will still need to be set.

Doucette said he has already been in contact with Aboriginal Affairs to get the group's moneyrestored.

He said the MN-S office will be open on abare-bones basis to help set up the meeting in June.