Give us the right to smoke, gamble and do "whatever the hell we want to do" on our reserves or we'll take you to court, First Nations chiefs say to the province.
"We have never given up sovereignty and that includes the right to gaming, to smoking and the right to do whatever the hell we want to do on our reserves," said Pine Creek Nation chief Billyjo De La Ronde.
"We have that right and we have the dollars to fight these cases in court."
De La Ronde will be asking the province for a gaming licence tomorrow to build a $1.2 billion casino-entertainment complex on Rolling River First Nation near Erickson, 80 km north of
"We want to be partners. We want to add to the economy and the vibrancy of this province. Give us that gaming licence," said De La Ronde.
Premier Gary Doer said last week that all new casinos on reserves will have to be smoke-free in order to get a gaming licence.
INTERVENER STATUS
The province is also phasing in the provincial butt ban in all existing casinos and licensed establishments on reserves following a contentious court ruling that struck down a portion of the ban that exempted First Nations.
"This is a court decision that has taken everyone by surprise," Grand Chief Ron Evans with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) said yesterday.
The province is also appealing the court ruling in order to protect future economic development opportunities with First Nations.
Evans said the AMC will not be seeking intervener status in the appeal but will support Chief Terry Nelson of the Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation in his application for intervener status. The AMC will provide Nelson with $15,000 for his legal fees.
"We are committed to work with First Nations in health issues and are also committed to working together with the province," said Evans.
Intervener status will allow Nelson to argue his case against the provincial butt ban before a judge at the appeal hearing. He filed his application last week.
"The First Nations need to take a stand on this issue. It's not a smoking ban issue, it's a jurisdictional issue," said Nelson. "We need to make sure the province understands clearly that they cannot be in a fight with First Nations."
The AMC will also help First Nations establish their own laws to supersede any provincial laws preventing them from smoking in bars, restaurants and casinos on reserves, Evans said.
"The bylaws will supersede the smoking ban," he said. "That's why we're providing the templates for that."
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