By Miranda Brumwell

Supreme Court ruling: ‘This is just the beginning’

Apr 14, 2016 | 9:40 AM

A Supreme Court ruling has given Metis people the same rights as other First Nations across the country.  

The highest court in Canada ruled today 600-thousand Metis and off-reserve Indians are entitled to the same programs and services as all other Inuit and First Nations people. Robert Doucette, president of the Metis of Saskatchewan, said this is just the beginning for Metis people.

“It doesn’t change anything immediately for Metis people,” he said. “This is just now another step in the process, and the long line of negotiations that are going to have to take place…It’s going to need the willingness of the federal and provincial governments to acknowledge this ruling and to act on it.”

Doucette said he’s happy the Supreme Court of Canada affirmed what they’ve known all along.

 “The highest court in the land has affirmed what Harry Daniels (Metis activist) fought for, that the Metis should be treated with the same respect that all other First Nations and Inuit people are being treated with across this country,” he said.

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Doucette said leaders will have more leverage to negotiate with the Canadian government to ensure Metis people’s needs are being met and they’re being treated with the same respect as other First Nations and Inuit people.

Miranda.brumwell@panow.com

On Twitter: @mlbrumwell