By Patrick Book

First Nations want greater share of Saskatchewan’s natural resource wealth

Jun 8, 2011 | 5:11 PM

The biggest area of discontent between the province and Saskatchewan's First Nations is the sharing of resource revenues, according to an unprecedented “bear pit” session held in Regina on Wednesday.

For the first time ever Saskatchewan’s provincial cabinet met with First Nation chiefs from around the province for a question-and-answer session at the Ramada Hotel in Regina. The event was put together by the government at the request of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) Chief Guy Lonechild.

Chiefs had more than one hour to ask any question they wanted of the government ministers. The topic that kept coming up was the sharing of natural resource wealth.

Several chiefs stressed that they do not believe First Nations people are getting the same benefit out of the resources being removed from the land they share with the rest of the province.

Lonechild wants impact benefit agreements

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“We need opportunities in the potash sector,” Lonechild emphasized. “For over 40 years we've been left without. So impact benefit agreements (IBA) will say, 'What's in it for First Nations?' That's a long-overdue discussion,” said Lonechild.

The idea of an IBA stems from agreements carried out in BC, according to Lonechild. They are negotiated and signed by the provincial government, the company doing the work, and the First Nation whose land is involved.

Lonechild believes such agreements will follow the example set by uranium miner Cameco, who voluntarily offered shares and focused their hiring on First Nations near their northern mining operations.

“Issuing share options, looking at employment potential, let's crack open the lid in terms of the confines of what we've been talking about and let's keep this resource wealth here in Saskatchewan,” said Lonechild.

Premier Brad Wall says the province won't consider a direct resource sharing formula with First Nations, an idea being explored by the BC government, or force companies to sign IBAs. Wall says all people in Saskatchewan benefit from resource wealth.

“Natural resource revenue is for everybody in the province, whether they're First Nations or Metis or non-First Nations. It's the roads, it's the hospitals, it's the school system, it's keeping life as affordable as possible,” said Wall.

He contends Saskatchewan is still committed to ensuring First Nations people are as involved in the provincial economy as possible.

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