A federal court has ruled that Métis and other non-status Indians do indeed have status, and so fall under federal jurisdiction.
That means about 600,000 people who live off-reserve in Canada now qualify for the same benefits from Ottawa as First Nations as the Inuit.
The president of Métis Nation BC calls the ruling “an enormous step forward.”
Bruce Dumont says he hasn’t fully reviewed the ruling, but notwithstanding appeals, it will make a big difference in people’s lives.
“I’m very excited about the decision. I want to read fully and understand what it really means to us. I think we’ll move forward, absolutely. It will enhance our lives of the Métis people.”
He says the biggest areas in which the Métis people will benefit are education and healthcare.
“That whole socio-economic piece of it is what we’ve been fighting and negotiating (for) with the government for many years. Like I say, our people are marginalized in that respect.”
The case was first launched in 1999.
Photo credit: Métis Nation BC
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