Mitchell v MNR

Mitchell v MNR, [2001] 1 S.C.R. 911 is a leading Supreme Court of Canada decision on aboriginal rights under section 35(1) of the Constitution Act, 1982. The court held that Mitchell's claim to an aboriginal right to import goods across the Canada–US border was invalid as he was unable to present enough evidence showing that the importation was an integral part of the band's distinctive culture.

Indigenous peoples in Canada
First Nations Inuit Métis
History Paleo-Indians Pre-colonization Genetics Residential schools Indian hospitals Conflicts First Nations Inuit
Politics British Columbia Treaty Process Crown and Indigenous peoples Health Policy Idle No More Indian Act Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada Land claims Aboriginal land title Missing and murdered Indigenous women Numbered Treaties Royal Commission Self-government Specific claims Treaty rights / / Case law Organizations Politics
Culture Indigenous cultures Indigenous personalities Country food Music
Demographics Indian reserves AB FN Métis Atlantic CA BC MB ON QC SK Territories Pacific Coast
Linguistics Indigenous languages Inuit languages Indigenous English Dialects NAPA Aboriginal syllabics Inuit grammar
Religions Traditional beliefs Inuit religion
Index Index of articles Indigenous First Nations Inuit Métis Stubs
Wikiprojects Portals Portal:Indigenous peoples of the Americas Portal:Canada WikiProject Indigenous North Americans First Nations Commons Wiktionary Inuit Commons Wiktionary Métis Commons Wiktionary

Mitchell v MNR
Supreme Court of Canada
Hearing: 16 June 2000 Judgment: May 24, 2001
Full case name	Minister of National Revenue v Grand Chief Michael Mitchell also known as Kanentakeron
Citations	2001 SCC 33
Docket No.	27066
Prior history	APPEAL from Mitchell v. M.N.R., 1998 CanLII 9104 (2 November 1998), affirming in part Mitchell v. Canada (Minister of National Revenue), 1997 CanLII 5266 (27 June 1997)
Ruling	Appeal allowed
Court membership
Chief Justice: Beverley McLachlin Puisne Justices: Claire L'Heureux-Dubé, Charles Gonthier, Frank Iacobucci, John C. Major, Michel Bastarache, Ian Binnie, Louise Arbour, Louis LeBel
Reasons given
Majority	McLachlin CJ, joined by Gonthier, Iacobucci, Arbour and LeBel JJ
Concurrence	Binnie J, joined by Major J
L'Heureux-Dubé and Bastarache JJ took no part in the consideration or decision of the case.

In 1988, Grand Chief Michael Mitchell, a Mohawk of Akwesasne, attempted to bring goods from the US into Canada. At the border he declared everything that he had purchased in the US but refused to pay any duty on it, claiming that he had an aboriginal right to bring goods across the border.

At trial, the Federal Court agreed with Mitchell and held that there was an aboriginal right to import goods. The decision was upheld by the Federal Court of Appeal.

The Supreme Court overturned the decision, and held that Mitchell was required to pay duty for all of the goods he imported.