A journey that began 17 years ago ended when Canada's highest court declared that Metis and non-status Indians have the same rights as treaty Indians. Although Harry Daniels, the man who spearheaded this fight, did not live to see this day, his son Gabriel Daniels (pictured left) bears witness to the accomplishments of his father and his eventual success.
Gabriel Daniels
OTTAWA, ON-After a long 17-year fight for recognition, the Supreme Court of Canada handed down a major ruling on who bears responsibility for Indigenous Peoples of Canada. It declared on April 14 that the Government of Canada is responsible for all Indigenous peoples in Canada, including Métis and non-status Indians.
When the ruling was announced, there was rejoicing and emotion from the Métis and non-status leaders who were crowded into the foyer of the Supreme Court. With this ruling, Canada's highest court rules that about 418,000 Métis and 214,000 non-status Indians-First Nations people who had no registered Indian status-should now be considered "Indians" under section 91(24) of the Constitution Act of 1867, just as First Nations people with registered Indian status are.
This major ruling gives these groups a place to start in negotiating for rights, treaties, benefits, and services with the federal government that had been denied them because they had no status.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called this ruling "a landmark decision" and explained that his government has committed to reset Canada's relationship with Indigenous peoples.
"Quite frankly, we as a government have positioned ourselves in a way that is focused on renewing the relationship with Indigenous peoples across this country through an open, respectful, honest, engaged partnership and relationship," the prime minister stated.
Métis Nation of Alberta elder Joe Blyan said that "We now have official access to the federal government in this."
He was echoed by Dwight Dorey, National Chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples who called on Indigenous peoples to "establish a process and begin talking."
The court's ruling indicated that before Confederation when Canada became a nation, the government often included Métis and others of mixed Aboriginal ancestry in its understanding of "Indians." It was then used as a generic term for Aboriginal peoples, which often applied laws and policies to them as such.
