Nov 22-28, 2021

By Bruce McIvor and Cody O'Neil

This week's edition includes land defence, treaty rights, consultation, systemic racism, specific claims, throne speeches and more.

 

IN THE NEWS


Land defenders faced another police raid in Wet’suwet’en territory

 

 

Treaty rights and consultation were in the spotlight in Ontario

 

 

Systemic racism was front and centre on the east coast

 

 

NWT news included a new child and family services law 

 

 

Specific claims policy and throne speeches were hot topics across the country

 

 

FIRST PEOPLES LAW IN THE NEWS


Thanks to The Current for interviewing me about the problem with reconciliation.
 

For those interested in more of the legal and historical background to the RCMP’s latest actions against Wet’suwet’en land defenders, check out my recent interview here on CBC Daybreak North. The entire piece is really good to listen to. My segment starts at the 4:30 mark.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS


I’m looking forward to this online conversation about my new book hosted by the University of Ottawa’s Human Rights Research and Education Centre on December 3rd at 1:30pm eastern. Register for free here.
 

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK


“The RCMP’s most recent actions in Wet’suwet’en territory unfolded more like a horror movie than any semblance of the rule of law in a functioning democracy.”

- Pam Palmater

 

OFF THE BOOKSHELF


"In the final analysis, Canada still rests its foundational political legitimacy on the ideology and legal reasoning of English colonialism."

- Michael Asch, "Calder and the Representation of Indigenous Society in Canadian Jurisprudence" in Let Right Be Done (2007)

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.
First Peoples Law is the author of Annotated Aboriginal Law, 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.
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, and is a Fulbright Scholar. He is a member of the Manitoba Métis Federation.