Standing Buffalo Dakota First Nation sues Canada for centuries of systemic discrimination

The Standing Buffalo Dakota First Nation in Saskatchewan says it wants restitution for centuries of systemic discrimination against them by Canada. “We’ve seen the traumas of residential school, we’ve seen the oppressor of legislation and Indian Act, all the pieces of legislation that came to restrict and keep the Indian down, to some extent, exterminating our people,” says Chief Roger Redman. According to an amended statement of claim filed on April 1, 2025 in Federal Court, “the Defendant has not seen fit or necessary to reconcile or attempt to meaningfully reconcile the Crown’s de facto and asserted sovereignty with the preexisting  Aboriginal sovereignty and rights of the Dakota/ Lakota. “This is despite the Dakota/Lakota longstanding use and occupation of lands in Canada, and their allegiance to the British Crown.” The community, located 320 kilometres southeast of Saskatoon, has been at odds with the federal government for decades. In 2024, Canada apologized for wrongfully labelling them as “refugees.” The apology included a promise to rebuild trust and establish a nation-to-nation relationship. But Redmond says no meaningful action has followed and the discriminatory practices continue – including approvals for capital projects on their traditional lands. “We’re not letting industry or government determine consultation for us,” says Redman. “We determine that. So we have that consultation framework we presented to the province, and we gave the notice that any premises on major capital projects or resource minerals, we will be filing a judicial review that to stop those projects until our issues are until our court cases resolved.” Redman says when Canada approves projects without consulting nations, they ignore critical issues impacting Indigenous Peoples. No monetary award is listed in the statement of claim. Continue Reading