Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie said he will fight a court ruling that quashed a government land lease in favour of a First Nation, arguing that First Nations cannot use the ruling to veto the actions of others.
The ruling in May by Yukon Supreme Court Justice Ron Veale said the territorial government had not properly consulted the Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation before it granted an agricultural lease in the First Nation's traditional territory to a prospective farmer.
Veale ordered the government to start proper consultations with the First Nation. He said there must be "government-to-government dialogue" when using lands or resources that affect First Nations.
But Fentie told CBC News that the decision is flawed, and it won't change relations between his government and First Nations governments.
"Of course there may be frustration with certain First Nations who might take the view that they have a veto and consent is required in this territory for public government to make decisions on Crown land," Fentie said Tuesday.
"That's certainly not a view that this government has, nor will we ever have.… We do not believe that we should be reducing public government or diluting public government's jurisdiction."
Fentie denied allegations that his government has ignored or mistreated aboriginal governments, saying he's tried to work with all First Nations and even set up a special liaison office.
"The courts may very well have erred in their decision," Fentie said, adding he will appeal the ruling all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada if necessary.
Veale's decision has since been cited by two other First Nations.
Earlier this week, the Ta'an Kwachan Council near Whitehorse said it has not been included as an equal partner in government talks over an agricultural land application in Shallow Bay.
Chief Ruth Massey said her First Nation wants the land to be set aside as a special management area, and has pointed to the Little Salmon Carmacks decision as a precedent in its dispute with the government.
And on Aug. 17, the Na-Cho Nyak Dun First Nation announced it was withdrawing from talks with Alexco Resource Corp. on the reclamation of the United Keno Hill silver mine site 330 kilometres north of Whitehorse.
In a release, Chief Simon Mervin said the Yukon and federal governments have excluded the Na-Cho Nyak from meaningful talks on reclamation efforts, while eagerly cooperating with Alexco.
In its own release Aug. 24, Alexco said it's still going ahead with exploration efforts, noting that it has the continued support of Fentie's government.
Despite the situation at the United Keno Hill site, Fentie insisted that the Yukon is open for business.
"I encourage the mining indsutry to recognize the merits of investing in the Yukon," he said. "We will get through this issue, as we have many others."