Listen Live

New Sask trespass law threatens Indigenous food sovereignty says TLSN

The Trespass to Property Amendment Act which came into effect in Saskatchewan on January 1st is being criticized by the Treaty Land Sharing Network who say they oppose it as under the Numbered Treaties (1871-1921), Indigenous peoples have an inherent right to move freely through their territories.

The group which comprises farmers, ranchers, and other landholders says the new law creates obstacles to the implementation of Canada’s shared treaties. They say the freedom to move through their territories is fundamental to other inherent and Treaty rights including hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, and practicing ceremony and culture. By undermining access to land, the amendment threatens Indigenous food sovereignty, language revitalization, Indigenous relationships and responsibilities to the land.

The new law requires people to obtain permission from each landholder prior to accessing land. Without this permission, Indigenous people accessing land may be subject to penalties including fines up to $25,000 or jail time up to six months.

Joellen Haywahe, a Treaty Rights Holder from Carry the Kettle Nakoda First Nation east of Regina says the amendment is a breach of their Treaty Rights.

“It is limiting our ability to hunt, trap, gather, and access game and medicines on the small amount of natural habitat that remains.”

TLSN says that since 2007, the Saskatchewan government has sold nearly 2 million acres of Crown land that previously belonged to the people of this province. They add that 85% of land south of Saskatchewan’s forest fringe is privately owned or leased under terms that exclude public access.

TLSN recognizes that rural people have real concerns about their safety and harm to the lands and animals that they steward. However they believe the amended trespassing legislation will only create more problems, rather than solutions.

Autumn Baptiste, hunter and land user from Thunderchild First Nation sees the importance of relationship building.

“For Truth and Reconciliation to take place, treaty relationships must be built. Implementing this legislation will create a barrier for that relationship to prosper and is far from what the treaties intended. TLSN is showing us how to do that by creating a network for landholders and Indigenous people to share the land.”

The Treaty Land Sharing Network says they have come together to begin the work of honouring treaties and are committed to building relationships as treaty people going forward.

Gerry Lampow
Gerry Lampow
Gerry has lived in Lloydminster since winter 2010. That detail is important as coming from the Caribbean he did not see green grass until May. Now an Alberta/Western Canada resident, you would be hard-pressed to find a stronger proponent of Lloydminster than the news guy that appreciates a healthy dose of rock music and dress code leather. His mantra is focus on one thing and do it well.
- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

Lloydminster fire crews put out minor fire at Grace United Church

A minor fire at Grace United Church in downtown Lloydminster engaged the efforts of Lloydminster fire crews on Thursday, July 3.

Parade Marshals announced for Lloyd Ex

With the Lloyd Ex Fair celebrating 120 years, the prestigious role of the Parade Marshals to herald the start of the summer festival are Terence Bexson of Marshall and Lyle & Alison Lee of Lloydminster.

Nenshi takes aim at Alberta Next

The Alberta Next panel which has a stop in Lloydminster on Aug. 27 is coming in for some stick from freshly minted Alberta NDP MLA Naheed Nenshi. The opposition leader labelled the $2 million dollar UCP government effort as "full of extremist language" and having no place in Alberta.

Let your pictures ExploreSask in photo contest

As you point, focus and click this summer, you may consider putting your skills to the test in the ExploreSask Photo Contest which runs until Sep. 30.

SGI should remove inspection for out-of-province vehicles: Sask NDP

The bigger picture is inter-provincial trade, but if the inspection on a vehicle was removed when it changes owners across the Alberta-Saskatchewan border in Lloydminster, that would be a big help to local vehicle owners in the Border City.
- Advertisement -