When one community’s legal decision signals others

First Nations across the country breathed a sigh of relief when the Supreme Court of Canada brought a 24-year-old legal battle between the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake (MCK) and a former lawyer to an end last week. Kanesatake didn’t pay a legal bill launched by a former lawyer for services rendered. Over the years, with interest climbing, it turned into a $2 million debt. A debt for some reason it appears Kanesatake thought would go away. It didn’t. Earlier this month the Supreme Court of Canada unanimously upheld the $2 million debt ordering the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake (MCK) to pay the bill in its ruling on Mohawk Council of Kanesatake vs Sylvestre. The ruling itself came as a huge disappointment to the community leadership who now say it will…

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