Supreme Court decision clears way for Labrador land claim, says NunatuKavut leader

Members of southern Labrador'sNunatuKavutcommunity are celebrating aSupreme Court of Canada decision that will make it easier to settle land claims, according to one of itsleaders.

The court ruled Thursday thattens of thousands of Mtis and non-status Indians across Canada are the responsibility of the federal government, ending a 17-year court battle.

• Supreme Court of Canada extends rights to Mtis and non-status Indians

"This is a huge victory for southern Inuit of Nunatukavut," said NunatuKavutCommunityCouncil (NCC) PresidentTodd Russell in a news release.

"Buildingupon the commitment from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the path to a NunatuKavut land claim acceptanceis clearer and more assured than it has ever been," he said.

Russell expects the Supreme Court decision willhave a significant impact on members of his community.

This will have a tremendous impacton our overall well-being.- Todd Russell

"This historicwin ensures that we must have equitable access to programs and services like Non-Insured HealthBenefits, housing and education, which have long been denied our people. This will have a tremendous impacton our overall well-being," he said.

Russell believes this court decision will fundamentally change the federal government's relationshipwith his community.

Build nation-to-nation relationship

"Now, we can truly continue to build a nation-to-nation relationship with the Government of Canada and gainthe recognition that we deserve and have been fighting for generations," he said.

The ruling extends the federal government's responsibilities to approximately 200,000 Mtis and 400,000 non-status aboriginal people who are not affiliated with specific reserves, and have essentially no access to First Nations programs, services and rights.

The case was launched in 1999 by prominent Mtis leader Harry Daniels then president of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples along with Leah Gardner, a non-status Anishinaabe woman, and Terry Joudrey, a non-status Mi'kmaq man. Daniels died in 2004.

Canada's top court was asked to rule on whether the federal government has the same responsibility to Mtisand non-status Indiansas to status Indians and Inuit.

Justice RosalieAbella, writing for the court, said the provincial and federal governments have both denied having legal authority over non-status Indians andMtis, leaving them in a "jurisdictional wasteland."

Dwight Ball's promise

Last November, thenNewfoundland and Labrador Liberal Leader Dwight Ball saidhis party was"doing everything possible" to ensure the NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC) land claim is brought to the negotiating table.

In October, Russell encouraged voters to ask candidates about their commitment to settling theNCCland claim.

"I tell you, I feel that we're on the cusp of something that is real and true," Russell said to reporters following Ball's announcement.