A decades-old controversy over who should control use of a lake that the Okanagan Nation Alliance considers sacred is heating up again around the town of Osoyoos, about 13 miles north of the United States border.

The property containing Spotted Lake is currently owned by descendants of the late Ernest Smith, who once had the idea of developing a spa there but who was thwarted when Native people and their supporters blocked rezoning of the property.

A decades-old controversy over who should control use of a lake that the Okanagan Nation Alliance considers sacred is heating up again around the town of Osoyoos, about 13 miles north of the United States border.

The property containing Spotted Lake is currently owned by descendants of the late Ernest Smith, who once had the idea of developing a spa there but who was thwarted when Native people and their supporters blocked rezoning of the property.

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In the upcoming weeks and months you may be hearing a lot about the Metis, as a landmark court case known as R v. Powley was heard by the Ontario Court of Appeal, Jan. 10 to 12.

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In the upcoming weeks and months you may be hearing a lot about the Metis, as a landmark court case known as R v. Powley was heard by the Ontario Court of Appeal, Jan. 10 to 12.

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While admitting that part of the city of Sarnia is on land improperly carved away from the Chippewas of Sarnia's reserve, the Ontario court of appeals still rejected the First Nation's claim that it still holds title to the land.

Legal observers say the final decision was not much in question in that case, even before the trial that produced the appeal. Everyone was certain the court would not tell the 10,000 non-Native people residing on the disputed land they didn't own it. The only question was how the court would justify reaching that decision.

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While admitting that part of the city of Sarnia is on land improperly carved away from the Chippewas of Sarnia's reserve, the Ontario court of appeals still rejected the First Nation's claim that it still holds title to the land.

Legal observers say the final decision was not much in question in that case, even before the trial that produced the appeal. Everyone was certain the court would not tell the 10,000 non-Native people residing on the disputed land they didn't own it. The only question was how the court would justify reaching that decision.

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An Ontario Court of Appeals decision, with potentially far-reaching implications for land claim lawsuits in all parts of the country, will be appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada.

The five-member Ontario appeals court ruled the Chippewas of Sarnia are not the legal owners of land that is now part of the city of Sarnia, despite the fact the Chippewas never surrendered the land.

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An Ontario Court of Appeals decision, with potentially far-reaching implications for land claim lawsuits in all parts of the country, will be appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada.

The five-member Ontario appeals court ruled the Chippewas of Sarnia are not the legal owners of land that is now part of the city of Sarnia, despite the fact the Chippewas never surrendered the land.

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Robert Nault, the minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, let it be known in mid-January that an idea he has been pondering since his appointment 18 months ago has now been moved onto the front burner.

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Robert Nault, the minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, let it be known in mid-January that an idea he has been pondering since his appointment 18 months ago has now been moved onto the front burner.