By Derek Cornet

‘Taking back authority’: LLRIB sets sights on passing land code

Nov 20, 2018 | 1:00 PM

The Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) is currently in the process of collecting membership feedback about a draft land code.

Community meetings began Nov. 14 in Stanley Mission and Grandmother’s Bay, and since then other land code discussion sessions were held in La Ronge, Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Sucker River. Another community meeting is scheduled for Nov. 20 at 5 p.m. in Hall Lake, followed by a final session in Little Red River Nov. 23 at 12 p.m.

“Nothing is going to be passed without the membership’s concerns,” LLRIB Counc. Sam Roberts said. “The land code is being implemented with other First Nations across Canada. The land code is pretty well taking back authority of our own land.”

With the current situation, Roberts explained the band ultimately doesn’t control what happens on reserve lands. He noted once a land code is passed, the LLRIB will be able to make decisions about land without additional oversight and he called it the first step to reaching self-governance. Across Canada, Roberts said close to 80 First Nations have land codes with about a dozen or so in Saskatchewan.

One example of how the land code will benefit the LLRIB, Roberts stated, is with the band being able to control funds generated through lands leased to non-band members. He said all profits the LLRIB currently makes by doing so now is sent to a revenue trust account controlled by the federal government. The band then has to write proposals for public programs and projects to get the money back. Roberts said it can take up to a year for proposal to be approved and the funds to be released.

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“We can have our own trust fund within the band and … operate whatever goes on on the reserve,” he said. “We would decide by a committee which projects would go through.”

The LLRIB has until 2020 to complete the land code, but Roberts mentioned there’s a possibility the band could ask for an extension considering the size of all the reserves. If band members didn’t make it to a meeting and want more information, they’re encouraged to contact the lands manager at the La Ronge band office.

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno