US Edition
Families whose ancestors gave up Indigenous status sue for rights return
The lawsuit contends historical enfranchisement laws forcibly stripped Indigenous descendants of benefits, with the government conceding some provisions are unconstitutional, seeking damages for affected families.
- In Vancouver, Plaintiffs Charles Wesley, Christopher Wesley, Sharon Nicholas and Nicole Nicholas filed a claim alleging descendants 'voluntarily' enfranchised are wrongly denied registration, seeking damages.
- Amid historical enfranchisement rules dating to 1857, all plaintiffs have at least one ancestor enfranchised under the Gradual Civilization Act of 1857 that allowed Indigenous men 21 or older to renounce status.
- Pointing to their family history, the lawsuit says their family history of enfranchisement bars them and their descendants from registering under the Indian Act, denying tangible economic, educational and health benefits.
- The claim notes the federal government of Canada has 'conceded' the Indian Act's registration provisions are unconstitutional, with a decision pending in the B.C. Supreme Court.
- A 1996 Royal Commission report noted that the enfranchisement policy was 'by its very nature an assault on Indian cultural identity', following the 1857 act and federal legislation post-Confederation.
27 Articles
27 Articles
The application filed in the Federal Court alleges that Ottawa wrongly denies them Aboriginal status.
Families whose ancestors gave up Indigenous status sue to have rights restored
VANCOUVER — A proposed class-action lawsuit filed in Federal Court says the Canadian government wrongfully denies people status under the country’s Indian Act if their ancestors “voluntarily” gave up Indigenous status under laws that predate Confederation.
Winnipeg Free Press
Families whose ancestors gave up Indigenous status sue for rights return
Breaking News, Sports, Manitoba, Canada
VANCOUVER — A proposed class action before the Federal Court alleges that the Canadian government wrongly denies Aboriginal status under the Indian Act to persons whose ancestors "volunteerly" renounced their Aboriginal status under laws that date before Confederation. Complainants Charles Wesley, Christopher Wesley, Sharon Nicholas and Nicole Nicholas filed a claim in Vancouver this month for damages to the federal government for being deprived…
Families whose ancestors gave up Indigenous status sue for rights return – Energeticcity.ca
VANCOUVER — A proposed class-action lawsuit filed in Federal Court says the Canadian government wrongfully denies people status under the country’s Indian Act if their ancestors “voluntarily” gave up Indigenous status under laws that predate Confederation. Plaintiffs Charles Wesley, Christopher Wesley, Sharon Nicholas and Nicole Nicholas filed a statement of claim in Vancouver this month seeking damages from the federal government for “being dep…
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