Carry the Kettle First Nation Launches Court Action Over Violation of its Treaty Rights by the Saskatchewan and Canadian Governments
REGINA, Saskatchewan, Jan. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Carry the Kettle First Nation has filed a claim against Saskatchewan and Canada for infringing their Treaty 4 rights. Carry the Kettle asserts that Canada and Saskatchewan must stop violating the promises it made to Carry the Kettle in Treaty 4 and instead must honour the Treaty and protect Carry the Kettle's way of life. The First Nation is being represented by JFK Law in this matter.
When Canada signed Treaty 4 it promised Carry the Kettle that their way of life would be maintained. In turn Carry the Kettle agreed to share the land with the Crown to allow for some settlement and development. Carry the Kettle asserts that it has upheld its promises but Canada and Saskatchewan have taken so much of Carry the Kettle's land for settlement, farming and resource development that its way of life is in danger of being forever lost.
Chief Elsie Jack states, "Our ancestors abided by the Treaty and kept the promises they made to the newcomers and settler governments. Our ancestors stood by those commitments. The current Carry the Kettle Council and community continue to uphold our Treaty obligations. This cannot be said of the Crown. The governments of Saskatchewan and Canada failed to uphold the honour of the Crown, its obligations and binding Treaty commitments. We feel we no longer have any other recourse, are compelled to act and appeal to the courts for justice and to help set things right."
Carry the Kettle believes it is not too late for the governments to work with us to find ways to co-exist and respect each other's rights to live on these shared lands. We do not ask that people's homes or livelihoods be taken away only that we be given a real chance to maintain our community, our identity and our ability to sustain ourselves.
Councillor Kurt Adams of Carry the Kettle adds "While this case will be a long-term struggle for our people, this Council, future Councils and the Carry the Kettle People will not step back from this until justice has run its course. Successive Saskatchewan governments and corporations that operate under its approvals have shown nothing but utter contempt of our Treaty, Canada's highest laws and our people. It ends here. We do this to restore a better balance between nature and development, between the rights of settlers and our people and to the relationship between the Crown and our Nation. Our hope and aim is that a better future awaits our people and all people of Saskatchewan and all those who live on and share this home."
Carry the Kettle's traditional lands are primarily located in southern Saskatchewan. Their main reserve is situated near Indian Head.
Hold the Date: Upcoming Press Conference
The Carry the Kettle First Nation Chief and Council and its legal counsel JFK Law will be holding a Press Conference via teleconference on:
Wednesday January 17, 2017
10:00AM CST / 8:00AM PST / 11:00 EST
Conference Call Number: 1-877-394-5901
Conference Call Access Code: 1556243
For additional information on this precedent setting case, please go to the
Carry the Kettle First Nation website located at:
View under "News and Events"
Included on the website is:
- The Statement of Claim filed by Carry the Kettle with the Saskatchewan Courts
- A Backgrounder to the Legal Case
- The Carry the Kettle Nakota Nation Traditional Land Use Study
For further information or to arrange a one-on-one interview with Carry the Kettle First Nation please contact Carry the Kettle's legal counsel, JFK Law at (250) 405-3460.
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