November 16-21, 2022

By Bruce McIvor and Geneva Lloyd

This week’s edition includes Aboriginal title, systemic racism, duty to consult, education and more. 

 

IN THE NEWS


National news included child welfare, Idle No More, education and more 

 

 

Métis and treaty rights topped Alberta headlines 

 

 

BC headlines featured systemic racism and a decades-long fight for land 

 

 

Water protection and sovereignty topped headlines in Manitoba 

 

 

The Ring of Fire and Aboriginal title were back in the news in Ontario 

 

 

A ground-breaking First Nations water authority was in the spotlight on the east coast 

 

 

Duty to consult continues to top headlines in Saskatchewan 

 

 

Nunavut news included a proposed mine expansion ​​​​​​

 

 

HOT OFF THE PRESS


Check out my essay about Justice O’Bonsawin’s appointment to the Supreme Court of Canada in Canadian Lawyer, available here

 

FPL IN THE NEWS 


First Peoples Law was named one of Canada’s most recommended law firms by the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business. You can see the full list here. 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS


I’m looking forward to co-chairing this week’s CLE BC Aboriginal Law Conference with my colleague Tumia Knott. For those of you interested in attending you can register to join us in person or online.  

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK


We need the land, the land needs us. We are part of the land, the land is part of us.

- Dahti Tsetso, deputy director of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative 

 

OFF THE BOOKSHELF


The past is never dead. It's not even past.

- William Faulkner, Requiem for a Nun (1951) 

We are excited to announce Westaway Law Group joined First Peoples Law LLP on October 1, 2022. The newly expanded First Peoples Law LLP creates a national boutique firm specializing in Indigenous rights and working exclusively for First Nation clients.
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.
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.
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.