The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) Chiefs-in-Assembly endorsed a set of guidelines to regulate provincial conservation officers' entry onto Indian reserve lands during last week's FSIN Spring Legislative Assembly. 

Chiefs-in-Assembly at the May 2016 FSIN Legislative Assembly.

These new guidelines were jointly developed between the FSIN and Ministry of Environment to ensure that permission is obtained before entry and that the jurisdiction of First Nations is respected. The direction came from Chiefs-in-Assembly for the FSIN to work with the provincial Ministry of Environment to develop a draft Principles Document entitled, "Guidelines for Entry of Conservation Officers on First Nation Reserves" to be used as a template - for the First Nations governments to adopt as their own. 

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"This new set of guidelines recognizes, incorporates and are based upon the First Nations' inherent and Treaty rights to hunting, fishing, trapping and gathering," said FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron. "This is an example of how an issue can be resolved as long as the governments are willing to work together."

First Nations leadership have repeatedly said that Provincial Ministry of Environment conservation officers must have permission before entering onto reserve lands to enforce the provincial government's Wildlife Act.

Previously conservation officers had performed their duties under guidelines unilaterally drafted and implemented by the provincial Ministry of Environment without First Nations input. 

"It is important for the Ministry of Environment and all Provincial Ministries to respect and honour the jurisdiction and authority of the First Nations leadership over Indian reserve lands which is an inherent right, confirmed by Treaty and by the Constitution of Canada," said FSIN Vice-Chief E. Dutch Lerat.