Dene to sue over gun law

Dene in the Northwest Territories may challenge the new federal gun legislation in court.

At a special assembly of the Dene Nation in Yellowknife last week, delegates expressed concern that the gun law violates their aboriginal treaty rights. Delegates declared their intent to challenge the law and asked for help from other First Nations groups.

Under the firearms law, Canadians gun-owners must obtain licences and their weapons must be registered.

In Nunavut, the Inuit land-claims organization Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. has already filed a lawsuit against the federal government over the gun legislation. NTI expects a ruling on the issue this spring or summer.