"It is absolutely groundbreaking," says Robert Jago, a member of the Kwantlen band, near Langley, B.C. While the BCCLA letter is not legally binding, it lists precedent-setting legal cases where First Nations people's charter right to freedom of expression was confirmed. Some band members are hoping to change the band's current hereditary system for one that includes elections. (Rafferty Baker/CBC)While some band members are content with the leadership, others, like Jago, say an election is needed so more band members have a voice in band decisions. In a statement, a spokesperson for Indigenous Services Canada told the CBC that it was not able to confirm if the department received Jago's petition.

Source: CBC News September 19, 2020 15:56 UTC