ACFN files lawsuit against Alberta’s new Aboriginal consultation office – Northern Journal

It’s been just over a year since Alberta rolled out its new Aboriginal consultation policy for the province, but the controversial office charged with assessing and managing the Crown’s duty to consult with First Nations and Métis is already facing a court challenge.

The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN) of Fort Chipewyan filed a court application in Calgary last Thursday challenging the new consultation office established in late 2013, calling the new process “unaccountable, unfair and unconstitutional.”

Aboriginal governments have been highly critical of the new consultation policy since it was first released in the summer of 2013. Treaty 8 chiefs unanimously rejected the rules, alleging they undermine Aboriginal rights and were developed without incorporating First Nations’ input.

Under the new policy, the province set up a single window office to determine what projects require consultation, which First Nations are to be consulted and what level of consultation will be required.

Read More: http://norj.ca/2015/01/acfn-files-lawsuit-against-albertas-new-aboriginal-consultation-office/