No jurisdiction on Mi'kmaq application, court rules

The Newfoundland Supreme Court has turned down an application that would have allowed people with Mi'kmaq ancestry to sue the federal and provincial governments.

The application, which was filed almost four years ago, asked the court to approve a class action suit on behalf of more than 7,000 people not formally affiliated with the Federation of Newfoundland Indians.

The application had asked the court for an ability to establish bands and reserves.

However, the court dismissed the application, saying those actions can only be done through the federal Indian Act.

The Mi'kmaq community of Conne River about 225 kilometres south of Gander was registered under the Indian Act in 1984 and later was granted reserve status.

No recognition under the act has ever been made for Mi'kmaq living elsewhere.