Okanagan Indian Band taking legal action over rail-trail land

By Lauren Pullen, Global News, March 25, 2015

Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) members are taking legal action for land they says is rightfully theirs. The OKIB has filed a notice of claim for a portion of the CN rail line that it says runs through the Commonage Indian Reserve IR No.9, a stretch land part of the proposed rail-trail corridor that’s set to connect Coldstream to Kelowna.

Gogama crude oil spill worries nearby Mattagami First Nation

CN rail cars carrying oil derailed on Feb 14, 2015 near the community of Mattagami First Nation in northern Ontario.

Cleanup continues at the site of a CN train derailment northwest of Gogama, Ont.

CBC News, Feb 19, 2015

Mattagami First Nation is sounding the alarm about a CN rail spill near the community.

The First Nation said Saturday’s derailment involving 29 crude oil tankers occurred on its traditional territory, located 40 kilometres north of the community.

Ontario’s Regional Chief Stan Beardy is advocating for the community to make sure the site is cleaned, as he’s concerned about the spill causing environmental damage.

Gitxsan announce railway shutdown in traditional territories

By Matthew Robinson, Vancouver Sun, August 5, 2014

Members of the Gitxsan First Nation told CN Rail officials to stop sending trains through Gitxsan traditional territories as of 10 p.m. Tuesday, said a negotiator for the First Nation.

“There will be a shutdown of services through the Gitxsan territories,” said Beverly Clifton Percival minutes before the deadline.

Percival would not say how members of the First Nation planned to stop any trains heading into the nation’s 33,000 square kilometres of territory in northwestern B.C.

Judge should have declared ties to CN Rail in native protest cases, lawyer argues

Blockade of CN rail line near Sarnia, Ontario.

High-profile lawyer complains to legal disciplinary body that judge should have declared potential conflict of interest before hearing case involving CN Rail and Aboriginal protestors

By Peter Edwards, Toronto Star, March 27 2014

A high-profile Toronto lawyer has complained to a legal disciplinary body that a judge should have declared a potential conflict of interest before presiding over cases involving First Nations protests along Ontario CN Rail lines.