In the Treaty Governance Processes, there are two kinds of tables or forums: bilateral and trilateral.

The Exploratory Treaty Table is a bilateral forum facilitated by the Office of the Treaty Commissioner. Discussions are between the two parties to Treaty - Crown and First Nations - as represented by the Federal Government of Canada and the Federations of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, respectively. At this table the Province of Saskatchewan is an active observer.

The Common Table, is trilateral, a forum comprised of the Chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, the federal Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, and the provincial Minister of First Nation and Metis Relations. This table was established to discuss issues of mutual concern and facilitate common understandings related to jurisdiction and related fiscal matters. Pursuant to the Common Table, the parties agreed to establish a Fiscal Relations Table and a Governance Table to carry out negotiations on these matters.

The Governance Table, is trilateral, established to assist in defining the roles and responsibilities of First Nations, Saskatchewan and Canada on a range of governance, jurisdiction and programming matters. It is intended to facilitate the recognition and implementation of First Nation governance. It was specifically agreed that the Governance Table would work to establish a new relationship that is consistent with and builds on the treaty relationship and is consistent with the implementation of the inherent right of First Nations to govern themselves.

The Fiscal Relations Table, is trilateral, works on financial or money-related issues of a Treaty-based government relationship. This government-to-government fiscal framework must enable the long-term delivery of First Nation governance in a stable and predictable fiscal relationship with Canada and Saskatchewan.

In late 2002, the Governance Table and the Fiscal Relations Table were merged into the Governance & Fiscal Relations Table.

The mandate of the Office of the Treaty Commissioner is to facilitate a common understanding between the FSIN and the Government of Canada, where they now have different views, along with various other duties. The original issues to be discussed were child welfare, education, shelter, health, justice, treaty annuities, and hunting/fishing/trapping/gathering, with Lands and Resources added later.