A Saskatchewan Conservative MP who has introduced a private member's bill to amend the Indian Act is being criticized for his lack of consultation.

Rob Clarke, who is a First Nations person himself, said he wants to remove outdated language and give First Nations people more input into the act.

However, at a meeting in Saskatoon on Saturday, some people criticized him for not getting more input into his bill before submitting it. Clarke said he didn't have the budget.

"I'm not a minister, I don't have the department and most of all I don't have the government to go across the country to do consultations one on one," he explained.

Letters instead of meetings

Clarke maintains he sent out more than 600 letters and that official consultations will come if the bill reaches committee stage.

Among those who came out to see Clarke was Rachel Snow, who raised concerns about the MP's lack of consultation earlier in the process.

"He certainly didn't ask for our information, consultation, or come to the communities," she said. "If he didn't do that, how can he then go forward saying he's doing this for our benefit? It's very paternalistic."

'He's going about the process wrong'—Kevin Seeseequasis

Kevin Seeseequasis agreed with Snow that Clarke is starting the consultation process too late.

"He's going about the process wrong," Seeseequasis said.

"If he had done the consultation piece in advance, he would have heard that there is a definite need to replace the Indian Act, but it has to be done as partners."

The Indian Act is the federal legislation that sets out the reserve system and defines who qualifies as an Indian.

Many people say it is a paternalistic law that should be scrapped as soon as possible, but others say that shouldn't happen until replacement legislation is ready.