Supreme Court sides with B.C. First Nation in ancestral land dispute
OTTAWA — A Supreme Court of Canada decision has moved a British Columbia First Nation a big step closer to receiving financial compensation for the loss of its traditional lands in the 19th century.
In a split decision released Friday, the high court restored a tribunal ruling in favour of the Williams Lake Indian Band, which had argued the pre-Confederation colony of British Columbia failed to protect its territory from encroaching settlers.
The band also said Canada neglected to adequately remedy the wrong following B.C.’s entry into Confederation in 1871.
Instead of reclaiming the band’s ancestral village lands, Canada set aside different, nearby territory for the First Nation.