MCK applauds Supreme Court landmark Tsilhqot�in Decision

06/26/2014

The Mohawk Council of Kahnaw�:ke (MCK) wishes to inform the community that it is extremely pleased with the decision announced by the Supreme Court of Canada in regard to Tsilhqot�in First Nation, which grants a �declaration of aboriginal title� to over 1,700 square kilometers of land in British Columbia.

The unanimous 8-0 decision is the first time that the court has made such a groundbreaking ruling regarding First Nations lands.

�Finally, aboriginal title has been reaffirmed and is no longer just a vague concept in the eyes of Canada,� said Grand Chief Michael Ahr�hron Delisle, Jr. �This will have impacts on several levels. The Supreme Court � which has often disappointed us in the past � has actually ruled in favor of a First Nation to the point that it establishes what �land title� means and what rights are associated with it.�

�The urgency has now shifted to Canada to ensure that it implements this in work at all stages at the Federal level,� he continued. �We expect that this will be implemented in a meaningful and authentic manner.�

The MCK and its Legal Services team will be analyzing the ruling to determine its possible impacts on Kahnaw�:ke.