Small B.C. Interior First Nation takes aboriginal-title fight to Canada's highest court
By PETER O’NEIL, Vancouver Sun
OTTAWA — The public need not fear "havoc" if it supports the Tsilhqot'in First Nation claim to a large area of B.C. interior land, the Supreme Court of Canada was told Thursday.
The assertion was made in a hearing that could lead to one of the most important court decisions on aboriginal rights in Canadian history.
Canada's highest court has heard land title cases for 40 years but has never made a determination that a specific First Nation has title to Canadian land.
"This is the right case and right time to find a way forward in the process of reconciliation," said David Roseberg, who is representing plaintiff Roger William of the Tsilhqot'in (also known as Chilcotin) First Nation.
Both Rosenberg and Joe Arvay, representing the Assembly of First Nations, dismissed warnings from the B.C. Business Council that a declaration that a large area of land is under aboriginal control would create a devastating economic chill....
By PETER O’NEIL, Vancouver Sun
OTTAWA — The public need not fear "havoc" if it supports the Tsilhqot'in First Nation claim to a large area of B.C. interior land, the Supreme Court of Canada was told Thursday.
The assertion was made in a hearing that could lead to one of the most important court decisions on aboriginal rights in Canadian history.
Canada's highest court has heard land title cases for 40 years but has never made a determination that a specific First Nation has title to Canadian land.
"This is the right case and right time to find a way forward in the process of reconciliation," said David Roseberg, who is representing plaintiff Roger William of the Tsilhqot'in (also known as Chilcotin) First Nation.
Both Rosenberg and Joe Arvay, representing the Assembly of First Nations, dismissed warnings from the B.C. Business Council that a declaration that a large area of land is under aboriginal control would create a devastating economic chill....