MCK appearing before Supreme Court and Parliamentary Standing Committee tomorrow

11/29/2016

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to inform the community that two important events are taking place tomorrow (Wednesday, 30 Kentenhkó:wa/November) in Ottawa.

In the first event, the MCK will make a presentation at the Supreme Court of Canada in the case involving the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation v. Enbridge Pipelines, Inc. et al. This pertains to an appeal filed by the Chippewas challenging the adequacy of Canada’s consultation process as a precondition to approving Enbridge’s application.

The MCK intends to argue that the National Energy Board has an obligation to assess the adequacy of Canada’s duty to consult and accommodate prior to issuing its decision on the Line 9B reversal and expansion project, and that the NEB’s process failed in that regard.

In the second event, Grand Chief Joseph Tokwiro Norton will appear before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Indigenous & Northern Affairs regarding their study of proposed amendments to the Indian Act stemming from the Descheneaux court decision.

The Grand Chief will deliver a statement to outline the implications of the proposed legislation and to present the MCK’s perspective and stance in the matter, most notably that no nation is entitled to impose its ‘criteria for belonging’ onto another nation – which creates another form of discrimination and injustice by Canada over Indigenous peoples.