A Regina-based lawyer says a lawsuit could soon be launched to recover monies owed to Métis people.
Tony Merchant explains a recent federal court decision has opened the door for such a move.
Earlier this year, a court ruled that Métis people and non-status Indians should be included in the section of the constitution that recognizes First Nations and Inuit as “Indians.”
Merchant says that means for years Métis people were denied benefits owing to them and paid taxes that other aboriginal people were exempt from.
“Now that they have been recognized as Indians essentially and in many northern areas the distinction was an unfair distinction, we want to try for Saskatchewan people to recover the money that they should have been receiving over time.”
He says this could include certain tax-monies paid and educational assista