Important Decisions seem to come and go in the Indigenous World; however few have such great importance as the “Daniels Decision” of April 14th, 2016 by the Supreme Court of Canada. It ruled that Federal Government has the Constitutional responsibility for Metis and non-Status Indians. This effectively proves that the decades old idea of passing the Metis and non-Status Indians issues back and forth between the Provinces and the Federal Government was at an end. It now was the Responsibility of the Federal Government and thereby all lower Governance organizations, agencies, departments, etc. to consult and negotiate with Metis and non-Status as “Indians” under section 91(24) of the Constitution Act, 1867.
This opened the way for Metis and non-Status to begin to build a future where our ideals are firstly built by ourselves, and then we can begin the long road of negation with the Canadian, Provincial, local Governments respectfully to find the ways to implement these ideals in a more solid way. Only after this is well under way can we continue towards the ultimate goal of self-governance. Harry Daniels goal and lifelong mission of seeking recognition for Metis and non-Status Indians under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 and this ruling that “the Federal Government has the Constitutional responsibility for Metis and non-Status Indians” was completed for him and the other Plaintiffs; But now the long road of implementation begins. It is up to us to build on these historic foundations.
Here is a Booklet Prepared by CAP to both understand and forge a way forwards.
