By Ryan Pilon

First Nations prepare to sue the province

Oct 7, 2010 | 4:32 PM

The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and participating chiefs will be taking legal action against the province.

They want the legislation restricting First Nations people to one carton of tax-free cigarettes per week to be removed, as well as recover the taxes they have to pay until then.

Austin Bear is the chief of the Muskoday First Nation. He along with close to 40 First Nation leaders, each purchased four cartons of cigarettes today to challenge the provincial government's legislation.

Bear argues not only will First Nations businesses lose revenue, but what the province has done violates their treaty rights.

“There's another piece of Federal legislation, in which the province of Saskatchewan is violating at least two sections of federal legislation,” said Chief Bear.

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FSIN Vice-Chief Morley Watson said they won't take this sitting down.

“We've been told by our chiefs and council to stand up to governments, because they've taken full advantage of our niceness. And I think today you will see the First Nations start to fight back,” said Watson.

So now if the government won't negotiate with them, FSIN and participating chiefs will take the province to small claims court.

rpilon@rawlco.com