Grassy Narrows First Nation taking Ontario to court over Mining Act, lack of consultation on land claims [Video]

A First Nation in northwestern Ontario is taking the province to court over its Mining Act, arguing the free-entry system violates its constitutional rights.

Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek, known as Grassy Narrows First Nation, has issued a notice of application in the Superior Court of Justice.

The legal action says the province’s Mining Act does not require prospectors to consult with First Nations before staking claims on their traditional lands. It argues this breaches the First Nation’s treaty rights under Sec. 35 of the Constitution and goes against the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

According to the notice of application obtained by CBC News, there …