The president of the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan says he's disappointed the province is appealing a court decision concerning Métis hunting and fishing.
Robert Doucette says he would rather negotiate with the province than settle this in the courts.
Last month, a provincial court judge ruled that Don Belhumeur was within his rights to fish for food on Katepwa Lake, about 70 kilometres northeast of Regina.
Belhumeur was fishing on the lake about five years ago when a conservation officer asked to see his fishing licence.
Belhumeur pulled out his Métis status card instead. The officer gave him a $125 ticket and when Belhumeur refused to pay, the case wound up in court.
The Crown is appealing, but Doucette says he'd rather have the province's new First Nations and Métis relations minister, June Druade, negotiate an agreement on Métis hunting and fishing.
Such an agreement would help avoid a lengthy and costly court process, he said.
"I don't know how many more times the Crown has to lose a court case to realize that there is an aboriginal right for Métis people to harvest for their family," he said.
Officials from the justice and environment departments had no comment.