Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Metis and Non-Status Indians Declared "Indians"

An important victory for more than 600-thousand off-reserve Metis and non-status Indians.

The Federal Court has ruled they are indeed ``Indians'' under the Constitution Act and they fall under federal jurisdiction.

But the Native Affairs Affairs Parliamentary Assistant Greg Rickford says it's too early to determine the impact.

The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples and several Metis and non-status Indians argued they are entitled to some or all of the same rights and benefits as on-reserve First Nations members.