Federal report a provincial issue, says Sask. Mtis leader

Mtis Nation-Saskatchewan president Robert Doucette says the provincial government should take heed of the recommendations of a new federal report aimed at clarifying Mtis rights.

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The report, "A Matter of National and Constitutional Import," was prepared by lawyer Tom Isaac, who was appointed by the Conservative government in 2015 to provide clarity on Mtis rights under Section 35 of the Constitution, which provides protection for Aboriginal rights.

The appointment of Isaac was a result of a 2013 Supreme Court ruling that found the federal government failed to follow through on a promise for land it made to the Mtis people more than 145 years ago.

A stepping stone

Speaking to CBC Radio's Saskatoon Morning on Friday, Doucette welcomed the report recommendations.

"I think it's another stepping stone on the way forward to trying to come to grips with the whole issue of Mtis rights and an outstanding obligation of the federal government to deal with those rights," he said.

The report recommends programs to educate federal employees about Mtis history and the introduction of long-term stable funding for the operation of Mtis Registries.

It also calls for a review of policies and practices related to consultation.

Moving forward

Doucette said consultation was a huge issue in Saskatchewan, and the provincial government should consider the recommendations of the report.

"I think Saskatchewan could take a look at all of these recommendations and sit down with the federal government and the next group of Mtis people that come in," he said.

"And have a good discussion about how they are going to move forward with, hand-in-hand, over this report and to ensure that Mtis rights in Saskatchewan are recognized and respected and acted on."

Potential implications

In a written response, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations said it had just obtained the report and it would review the recommendations.

"We will be working with our colleagues in other ministries about the recommendations and their potential implications for the province," it said.

Doucette said Mtis government reform was also needed to help alleviateinfighting.

He hoped the upcoming Mtis Nation Legislative Assembly in Yorkton, Sask., starting July 29 would help resolve those issues so the Mtis people in Saskatchewan would have more stability to negotiate with the provincial government.