Kahkewistahaw First Nation held a press conference on Nov. 17 in front of the Mosaic Stadium in Regina, Sask., to discuss issues it has with both The Mosaic Co. and the Province of Saskatchewan. Chief Evan Taypotat said Mosaic has failed to meaningfully engage with the nation while extracting billions of dollars worth of potash from the nation’s traditional territory over many years without meaningful benefit to the nation.
Chief Taypotat also said the nation had repeatedly reached out to Mosaic and bid on metal fabrication work for Mosaic that would have created good jobs for many of the nation’s members. He said Mosaic awarded all fabrication work to others. He said by law the nation are co-owners of this resource, and Mosaic has a moral and legal responsibility to share the benefits of extracting resources from the nation’s territory.
Mosaic disputed Chief Taypotat’s assertion that the company had made no fabrication awards or provided no benefits to the nation.
“We understand Chief Taypotat’s frustration,” a Mosaic spokesman told Green Markets. “However, in the last two years, we have included the Kahkewistahaw fabrication shop in 109 bids for work. They bid on three and after working closely with them, we did award them work in 2022 in the hopes that this would lead to a mutually beneficial and long-lasting relationship.
“On resource sharing, Mosaic will pay $1.2 billion in resource taxes and royalties to the Government of Saskatchewan in 2022, which is used for services for all of its citizens,” he added. “This is far and away the most exhaustive resource tax regime in the world, with our global competitors paying 40% less taxes than the Canadian potash producers.
“As far as our other Indigenous engagement efforts go, we have made significant progress on all of our key pillars and are on track or exceeding the targets relating to them for 2022,” said the spokesman.
Mosaic said that in 2022 it committed 15% of its community investment dollars to Indigenous organizations and partners. In 2022, it said it will have spent almost 24%.
Mosaic said it has committed to 15% of new hires being Indigenous. It said in 2022 it will have 16% of new hires as Indigenous.
In 2022, Mosaic plans were to have 8% of its spending be with Indigenous vendors, and that has been met. It has a goal of 15% by 2025. Mosaic said it makes progress every year on this goal. In the past several years, Mosaic said it has spent nearly $100 million with Indigenous-owned vendors in Saskatchewan.
“The work we do with our Indigenous partners is key to our success, and it is our hope that we can have a constructive and engaging relationship with all of the communities that surround our operations,” added the spokesman.
Chief Taypotat’s remarks quickly followed the proposed Saskatchewan First Act announced Nov. 1 by Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, which would amend the Constitution of Saskatchewan to confirm Saskatchewan’s autonomy and exclusive jurisdiction over its natural resources.
Malcolm Macpherson, an attorney with Clark Wilson LLP, which represents the nation, called the words of the Act antiquated and divisive statements that have no place in the context of modern-day Indigenous reconciliation. He added that the Supreme Court of Canada has confirmed that Aboriginal title is an encumbrance on the Crown’s title that contains an inescapable economic component.