While political opposition has scotched plans by the government of Saskatchewan to sell two provincially owned casinos in Regina and Moose Jaw to the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, other First Nations leaders are forging ahead with their own gaming projects.
Little Pine First Nation Chief Wayne Semaganis says ground will soon be broken on a casino and conference center in Lloydminster that will operate independently of the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority .
In addition, online gaming site northernbear.com is preparing for a major expansion, according to former White Bear First Nation Chief Bernie Sheppherd, an outspoken champion of First Nations sovereignty who was acquitted back in the 1990s on charges of running an illegal casinos.
Sheppherd is one of the First Nations leaders calling for total autonomy from the province for the tribes and the FSIN on gaming matters.
Canada’s New Democratic Party has refused to support a deal proposed by the province of Saskatchewan to sell two government-owned casinos to the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority. The sale of Casino Regina and Casino Moose Jaw would have required a change in the laws that protect Crown corporations, according to Casinos-Online.com.
Premier Brad Wall had asked the NDP to amend the Crown Corporations Public Ownership Act, which precludes the sale of Crown corporations without public approval and an election.
Tom McIntosh, of the political science department at the University of Regina, said the government rushed into talks with the Indians before thinking through the complicated process of changing the law.
They went ahead “in terms of agreeing to it and negotiating the memorandum of understanding without really thinking through the implications,” McIntosh said. Only then did lawmakers “suddenly realize” they could not complete the sale without the approval of the NDP.
