New provincial park draws criticism from First Nations band
Saskatchewan's newest provincial park is expected to receive official designation this summer, but it won’t have the support of a northern Saskatchewan reserve concerned the park will intrude on its treaty rights.
Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson said, “It has been a frustrating process and in the end, our concerns and requests have been totally disregarded.”
“It’s like we don’t even have a voice,” she said describing the consultation process with the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport (MPCS).
Great Blue Heron Provincial Park, located north of Prince Albert in the Emma and Anglin Lake region has been in the planning stages for more than two years. In that time, Cook-Searson said the band has stated its concerns only to have them pushed aside for political reasons.