b'CROWN LANDSCrown Land Sales in SaskatchewanFSIN seeks intervention on TLE violationsSINCE 2008, THE PROVINCE OFto exercise their inherent and Treatypursuant to Article 19 of the TLE Saskatchewan has been selling Crownrights on those lands.Framework Agreement. Such request lands. An online sale of Crown landwas forwarded to the OTC, and that was introduced by the Province in MayThe Federation of Sovereignoffice is awaiting direction from the 2017, with 10 more online auctionIndigenous Nations (FSIN) Lands andDepartment of Justice. So far, the sales occurring since then. ThisResources Commission and ChiefsProvince has refused to halt the sales practice is not new to the province,in Assembly have given directionor to give first consideration to First and they have shown they wont stopfor FSIN to support any NationsNations to purchase these lands.on their own anytime soon. challenging the Provinces sales of First Nations maintain that theCrown lands.On October 30, 2019, Witchekan province is violating the terms of theLake First Nation filed a statement Saskatchewan Treaty Land EntitlementOchapowace, Pasqua, Witchekan Lakeof claim in federal court arguing that (TLE) Framework Agreement andand Carry the Kettle First Nationsthe Province of Saskatchewan had specific claims settlement agreementsare all engaged in litigation on thisbreached the terms of the 1992 TLE by selling off Crown lands and byissue. The FSIN has continuously beenFramework Agreement by failing to refusing to give First Nations the firstlobbying the provincial government,provide proper notice and failing to right of refusal when lands are put updemanding a halt to the sales of thesegive the First Nation the first right of for sale. Furthermore, First Nationslands. In addition, a request has beenrefusal when it placed Crown lands for maintain that the Province is notmade from Piapot First Nation forsale by public auction. On February living up to its duty to consultationthe Office of Treaty Commissioner26, 2020, the Province filed a motion obligations when selling Crown lands,(OTC) to facilitate a meeting with thefor summary judgement seeking given that when such lands are sold,Minister responsible to discuss thedismissal of the action. On October First Nations will not have the abilityestablishment of an arbitration board15, 2021, the federal court dismissed the motion for summary judgement and awarded costs to Witchekan Lake, allowing the matter to proceed to trial. The Province sought leave to appeal this decision to the Federal Court of Appeal, and FSIN has sought leave tointervene.The FSIN and First Nations in Saskatchewan will continue to battle the Provinces sale of Treaty lands. If the Federal Court of Appeal rejects the Provinces appeal and sends the matter to trial, the FSIN will seek direction onintervening.36OUR PRIORITY Issue 12021/22'