FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL PREMIERS’ DISCUSSION IN SASKATCHEWAN EXCLUDES FIRST NATIONS: FIRST NATIONS LEFT OUT OF CRITICALDISCUSSIONS

(Treaty 6 Territory, Saskatoon, SK) – The Prime Minister will meet with Premiers from across

Canada on June 2nd in Saskatoon, SK., for high-level First Ministers’ discussions, notably

excluding First Nations leadership from participation despite the meeting taking place on

unceded, unsurrendered ancestral and traditional lands of Treaty Six territory.

The exclusion of Saskatchewan's 74 First Nations from this significant federal-provincial

gathering represents a fundamental breach of constitutional obligations. These discussions will undoubtedly impact First Nation communities and their constitutionally protected Inherent and Treaty Rights, First Nation jurisdiction and sovereignty, yet no invitation was extended to treaty holders and traditional stewards of these lands.

"The Prime Minister and Premiers will be making decisions about our traditional territory without our voices at the table despite the fact Saskatchewan is First Nation ancestral and traditional lands," said Chief Bobby Cameron," “This continues the colonial pattern of excluding First Nations from decisions that directly affect our people and our lands."

Moving forward, two key priority areas which were passed by FSIN Chiefs’ in Assembly; to

change and get rid of the unlawful, illegal 1930 NRTA which was done without First Nation

approval, consultation, and input. They failed in their duty to consult. They failed in their

fiduciary obligation to protect the interests of First Nation people. The second is to pass the Bill 268 Gaming Jurisdiction on-reserve, which First Nations have been advocating for many, many years. To see these improvements and changes to these two priority areas would greatly benefit First Nations in the area of decreasing poverty and investing our own housing crisis on-reserve, investing our own policing system, investing in addressing the alcohol and drugs that plague our communities everyday, investing in Healing and Wellness detox centres, etc., these are key areas we will continue to advocate for.

These unresolved issues continues to enable the province to extract billions of dollars in

resources from Saskatchewan while First Nations communities are systematically excluded from the economic benefits derived from their traditional territories.

"The province continues to profit enormously from our lands and resources while our

communities struggle with inadequate infrastructure, housing, and basic services," continued

Chief Bobby Cameron.” “The economic table that generates these billions does not extend to

First Nations, yet we are the original stewards of these lands."

The Chiefs will continue to advocate against the unlawful NRTA and push for recognition of their rightful place in resource revenue sharing and decision-making processes that affect their ancestral and traditional territories. The exclusion from today's meeting demonstrates the ongoing need for systemic change in how Canada conducts business on First Nations lands and honours its constitutional and treaty obligations.

“The federal government transfers tens of millions of dollars each year to the provincial

government, and they use our First Nations numbers to come up with funding formulas that

include our people. This system will continue to fail if we are not at the table when these

decisions are happening,” added Chief Bobby Cameron. “This is the weakest definition of

reconciliation that we have been stating for many, many years, and they continue to put us to

the side, and we must be partners. The best solutions come directly from our First Nations for

every sector that falls under the umbrella of our Inherent and Treaty Rights – recently, King

Charles III acknowledged the unceded, unsurrendered lands of the Algonquin and Anishinaabe in Ottawa, ON. We are expecting the Prime Minister and Premiers to do the same at these high level, exclusionary meetings.

We appreciated the invitation to the reception on Sunday, June 1, 2025, and are grateful for the opportunity to participate. However, we remain concerned that when high-priority matters and key decisions are being addressed, our voices are not included. It is at these critical decision making tables—particularly those impacting First Nations—that we expect to have a permanent presence and a meaningful voice.

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations represents 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan. FSIN is committed to honouring and upholding the spirit and intent of the Treaties and advocating for the promotion, protection and implementation of the Treaty promises made more than a century ago.

2025-06-01 - FSIN Media Release - Federal Provincial Premiers Discussion Excludes First Na.

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