Treaty Governance Process

The FSIN’s Treaty Governance Processes has been in operation since 1998, as a result of agreements re-establishing the Treaty Table and the Common Table between Chiefs of Saskatchewan/FSIN and the Government of Canada/Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and the Government of Saskatchewan.  The Processes have three parts: the Treaty Table (formerly Exploratory), the Governance and Fiscal Relations Table (GFRT) and the Office of the Treaty Commissioner (OTC). 



The Treaty Table is a bilateral forum for FSIN and Canada, with the Province of Saskatchewan sitting as observer.  This table works on finding common understandings on Treaty rights, and/or jurisdiction in the areas of child welfare, education, shelter, health, justice, annuities, hunting/fishing/trapping/gathering, and lands & resources.  The parties report on their progress on these issues to the FSIN Chief and to the Minister of INAC through context papers.  These papers are intended to provide guidance to the discussions involving Treaty implementation. 

The Governance and Fiscal Relations Table was responsible for work on a draft agreement-in-principle for First Nations self-governance.  Since 2003, the GFRT has been in abeyance because First Nations continue to seek to engage Canada in addressing Treaty implementation as a substantive part of the agreement.  These negotiation are yet to resume.  At this table, discussions are intended to lead First Nations into having full exercise of jurisdiction and law-making power, supported by fiscal arrangements to pay for programs, services and First Nations self-governance, all in a way that implements Treaty.

The FSIN’s Treaty Governance Processes are accountable to Chiefs-in-Assembly through the Indian Government Commission and the Chiefs Advisory Committee.