The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) says its members are being confronted with systemic racism when dealing with Ministry of Environment Conservation Officers.

The FSIN wants an apology after an Elder’s home was raided on the Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation, near Loon Lake in October 2021

The FSIN contends that Elders Doug Morningchild and his wife were at home preparing for a ceremonial gathering and feast, when several law enforcement vehicles surrounded his house. At a news conference in Saskatoon on Friday, Morningchild told reporters Conservation Officers proceeded to search the box of his truck while other officers were looking through windows into the couple’s home. Morningchild says it looked like a major drug bust or something of that nature by the number of vehicles that were in his yard.

Morningchild stated that when he asked if they had a search warrant, the Conservation Officers told him they did have one, however, they were not able to produce it for him because  it was left at their office.

He says the officers broke the locks on a large deep freezer and proceeded to confiscate all the wild meat from the freezer and three smaller  freezers. The FSIN says the way Morningchild understood the situation, the Conservation Officers were looking for moose meat that they claim was harvested on private land. Morningchild said all charges were dismissed on January 26th of the year by a judge on a technicality.

FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron said in a news release, “It is disgraceful that one of our Elder’s homes was swarmed and invaded by Ministry of Environment Conservation Officers when they were preparing for a ceremony. We are dismayed that after promises of reconciliation, a miscarriage of justice like this occurred. We need recognition of First Nations Inherent and Treaty rights from the province of Saskatchewan. The Treaties that our ancestors signed, guarantee our rights to hunt, fish, trap and gather year-round to feed our families and for ceremonies.”

Cameron wants more education and policy reforms. He says the FSIN has documented several complaints made by First Nations people about mistreatment by Saskatchewan Environment and Conservation Officers. The organization hasn’t received a response to its call for an inquiry into the matter and says they will continue to record events of mistreatment of First Nations when exercising Treaty rights.

CJWW News sent an email to the Ministry of Corrections, Policy and Public Safety.  We received this reply on Friday afternoon:

• • We can confirm that in October of 2021 the Conservation Officer Service received a complaint of recent and unlawful hunting activity that occurred on private/posted land by individuals who did not have permission to do so.

    

  • This search produced evidence that was seized and later confirmed to be related to the unlawful harvest of the animals.

   

  • As a result of the investigation, an individual was charged with one count of unlawful possession of wildlife under The Saskatchewan Wildlife Act.

   

  • On January 26, 2023, the matter was dismissed by the presiding Justice due to a technicality.

   

  Further information provided indicated that two moose had been harvested from the identified location. Evidence gathered at the scene and from the complainant led officers to a residence on Makwa Sahgaiecan FN which was later searched under judicial authorization.