Saskatchewan Métis president wants to see land claims, health care addressed after court decision

Métis Nation of Saskatchewan president Robert Doucette is hoping that a recent Supreme Court decision will be a game changer for people in the province.

In a decision on the case Daniels versus Canada on Thursday, the high court ruled that tens of thousands of Métis people are the responsibility of the federal government.

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Doucette believes the ruling could have far-reaching implications. It could have an impact for many people, including his family, who were removed from the Primrose Lake bombing range, located north of Meadow Lake, Sask., in the 1950s.

"Our issue over our land was never settled," he said. "We never received any compensation. Now, with this process, maybe we can go to the comprehensive or specific land claims process and say, 'You kicked us out of our home territory, our families suffered, now you have to deal with that."

The Métis organization's president also wants to see issues like health care for seniors addressed.

"Our elders are suffering right now," Doucette said. "Because they're not covered under the First Nations and Inuit branch of the federal government and Indian Affairs, they are suffering greatly. A lot of our elders have to make decisions — whether to pay for rent, pay for food or pay for their medication."

However, Doucette doesn't expect changes to happen overnight. The Daniels case took 17 years to wind its way through the courts, and he believes changes won't take place for some time.

"I'm cautiously optimistic," he said. "I know people are saying it's monumental and historic ... but the wheels of government turn really slow."

While he thinks there could be some anger about today's decision, he believes the results will benefit everyone.

"There are going to be people who will be afraid that it will be taking money away from them, might be diluting their rights. There'll be taxpayers saying, 'Oh, this is another cash grab,'" he said.

"But the truth be known, Métis people are taxpayers. So, really, what's going to happen is there's going to be a re-investment of our investment into this country."