August 30 - September 6, 2022

By Bruce McIvor and Cody O'Neil

This week’s edition includes treaty rights, protected sites, back to school and more.

 

IN THE NEWS


Indigenous rights and protected sites topped BC news 

 

 

The duty to consult was in the spotlight in Saskatchewan  

 

 

Policing was front and centre in Manitoba 

 

 

Flooding and treaty rights returned to Ontario news 

 

 

National headlines included Indigenous rights in Canada and Aotearoa 

 

 

In case you missed it, here are my thoughts on the important work yet to be done in the wake of Justice O'Bonsawin's appointment to the SCC 

 

 

HOT OFF THE PRESS


My colleague Kate Gunn and I contributed to the Aboriginal rights litigation chapter in the BCCLE’s latest edition of Injunctions, now available here. 

 

BACK TO SCHOOL


Kate and I are looking forward to co-teaching a seminar on the history and future of Aboriginal law starting next week at UBC.

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK


"There's an evolution happening, and evolution in the law especially when it comes to Indigenous people reclaiming our spaces and our power and our laws and implementing those, and I want people to honour and respect and give us that space as well." 

- Aly Bear, Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations 3rd Vice Chief  

 

OFF THE BOOKSHELF


"In the government's hands yes means no and no means yes." 

- Arthur Manuel, Reconciliation Manifesto (2017)

First Peoples Law is seeking additions to our growing team dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
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.
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.
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.
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.