Law360 Canada ( September 29, 2026, 9:48 AM EDT) -- Appeal by the appellants from a Federal Court decision dismissing their motion for default judgment against the Kehewin Band and Kehewin Band Council (jointly, Kehewin) for lack of jurisdiction. The appeal arose in the context of a long-drawn battle by the appellants, who were all members of the Kehewin Band, to enjoy the rights and benefits recognized by An Act to Amend the Indian Act (Bill C-31). Because of Kehewin’s opposition to Bill C-31 and its resistance to restoring the appellants’ membership in the Band, the appellants commenced an action for declaratory relief and damages against both Kehewin and the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (Canada). In the second phase of the default proceedings, the appellants filed a motion for default judgment and sought an assessment of damages. Without dealing with the merits of the motion, the Federal Court found that it did not have jurisdiction to entertain the appellants’ action against Kehewin under either subsection 17(4) or (5) of the Federal Courts Act. The appellants challenged both jurisdictional findings, as well as Kehewin’s participation before the Federal Court on natural justice grounds....