Quote:

 

OTTAWA— Native groups across Canada hailed as a “game-changer” the Supreme Court of Canada’s landmark decision to grant aboriginal title to a B.C. native group over a large tract of land — the first award of its kind.

B.C. aboriginal leaders and others immediately predicted a major impact on the Northern Gateway pipeline project and other resource developments on contested lands, with some calling it a “veto” while other legal analysts said the ruling simply reinforces existing legal duties on governments to consult with affected aboriginal groups.

Enbridge and other major industrial players were silent Thursday when the ruling was released. The B.C. and federal government, which is still negotiating some 100 land claims across the country, said little other than they were reviewing it.

“Today is a new day,” said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the B.C. Union of Chiefs, speaking in Vancouver. “We are in an entirely different ballgame.

Delphi51

Jan 7 2016, 02:15 PM

I thought there were lots of "large tracts of land" under native title in BC. I visited the Nisgaa Nation where Canada's lava bed lies, and it was in the news a few months ago that the First Nation west of Williams Lake got title to a large tract of land including a town - I wonder if any residents of other races were allowed to stay in their homes?

How is "having title" different from being a first nation on a reservation? I suppose it means the right for individuals to sell or mortgage land. The land is communally owned on reservations - no other races allowed to buy land. This was done to make sure the land remained under aboriginal ownership forever.