Indian Claims Commission supports hunting rights of Saskatchewan bands

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Canada should recognize hunting rights of three northern Saskatchewan Native bands, the Indian Claims Commissions reported late last month.

The commission ruled the Athabasca Denesuline Nation near Fond du Lac, Black Lake and Hatchet Lake have the right to hunt, fish and trap throughout their traditional territories.

And Ottawa is obliged to "recognize and protect" those rights, Chief Commissioner Harry LaForme said.

The area which includes part of the Northwest Territories, was named by the three bands as traditional hunting ground in a land claim rejected by Ottawa in 1989. The bands requested an inquiry in 1992, which the commission agreed to undertake last January.

Under Canada's Specific Claims Policy, however, the federal government is not equipped to deal with the grievance, LaForme said. The bands should enter into talks with Ottawa under a different process to ensure the Denesuline people's treaty harvesting rights "are respected and fulfilled."

The claims commission was established by Ottawa in the fall of 1991 following the Oka Crisis to examine and report on the federal government's land claim rejections and compensations from settlement negotiations.

The commission can rule on the validity of a rejected claim under the Specific Claims Policy, make recommendations on compensation and act as an independent arbitrator between bands and the government.

So far, the commission has accepted 74 claims from First Nations and is currently conducting 36 claims inquiries. Three inquiries were completed last year. The first ruled Ottawa breaches treaty and fiduciary obligations with two western bands over the creation of the Primrose Air Weapons Range.