January 25-31, 2023

By Bruce McIvor and Cody O'Neil

This week’s edition includes Treaty rights, class actions, child welfare, consultation, Aboriginal title and more.

 

IN THE NEWS


East coast news included Aboriginal title and governance 

 

 

Treaty rights and land sales topped Saskatchewan headlines 

 

 

Consultation and contamination were front and centre in Alberta

 

 

Protected and conserved areas were in the spotlight in BC 

 

 

Health care and class actions returned to national news 

 

 

FROM THE COURTS


The Federal Court issued an election decision 

 

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK


“The province continues to chip away at our Treaty rights by selling and leasing our lands – this cannot continue.”  

- Vice Chief Heather Bear, Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations 

 

OFF THE BOOKSHELF


"They too know all too well that some cracks were built just for us to fall through."

- Tanaya Winder, "Love Lessons in a Time of Settler Colonialism" (2018)

First Peoples Law is seeking additions to our growing team dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
First Peoples Law is the author of Indigenous Peoples and the Law in Canada: Cases and Commentary. Previously authored by legendary law professor Shin Imai for over two decades, the book includes hundreds of annotations of significant court decisions and federal legislation regarding Indigenous rights in Canada. We hope it continues to be a useful resource for Indigenous Peoples defending and advancing their rights across the country.
Bruce McIvor's clear, plain answers to frequently asked questions about Indigenous rights.
Faced with a constant stream of news reports of standoffs and confrontations, Canada’s “reconciliation project” has obviously gone off the rails. In this series of concise and thoughtful essays, lawyer and historian Bruce McIvor explains why reconciliation with Indigenous peoples is failing and what needs to be done to fix it.
We are providing a list of resources for anyone looking to get informed about the truth of Residential Schools shared by Survivors across the country. It is not meant to be an exhaustive list. We would welcome any feedback or recommendations.
Check out our podcast featuring conversations on the defence of Indigenous rights.
Your weekly news update on Indigenous rights from First Peoples Law.
First Peoples Law LLP is a law firm dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. We work closely with First Nations to defend their Aboriginal title, rights and Treaty rights, uphold their Indigenous laws and governance and ensure economic prosperity for their members.
Bruce McIvor, lawyer and historian, is partner at First Peoples Law LLP. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia’s Allard School of Law where he teaches the constitutional law of Aboriginal and Treaty rights. A member of the bar in British Columbia and Ontario, Bruce is recognized nationally and internationally as a leading practitioner of Aboriginal law in Canada. Bruce's ancestors took Métis scrip at Red River in Manitoba. He holds a law degree, a Ph.D. in Aboriginal and environmental history, is a Fulbright Scholar and author of Standoff: Why Reconciliation Fails Indigenous People and How to Fix It. He is a member of the Manitoba Métis Federation.