Aboriginal Affairs ‘paternalistic, self-serving’ in its use of ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ offers

APTN National News

The Specific Claims Tribunal blasted a branch of Aboriginal Affairs for being “paternalistic, self-serving, arbitrary and disrespectful” in a recent ruling impacting the department’s “take-it-or-leave-it” gambit to settle historical claims with First Nations.

The Jan. 17 ruling by Judge Patrick Smith eviscerated Aboriginal Affairs’ specific claims branch for its handling of a claim filed by the Aundeck Omni Kaning (AOK) First Nation, which is on Manitoulin Island, and its attempt to block it from accessing the tribunal.

read full story here:  http://aptn.ca/news/2014/01/23/aboriginal-affairs-paternalistic-self-serving-use-take-leave-offers/