A local Metis elder is celebrating a Supreme Court of Canada decision.
After a 17 year legal battle it determined Metis and non-status Indians are considered Indians under the constitution.
About 200,000 Metis and 400,000 non-status First Nations people will now fall under federal jurisdiction.
Marilyn Taylor in Trail is Kootenay Director for the Metis Nation of British Columbia.
Taylor came to Trail in 1949 and says she never faced discrimination but she also downplayed her background to protect herself from that.