February 1-7, 2023

By Bruce McIvor and Cody O'Neil

This week’s edition includes court cases, consent, Treaty rights, governance, repatriation and more.

 

IN THE NEWS


Governance was front and centre in NWT news 

 

 

Ontario news included Treaty rights and consent 

 

 

Treaty rights also topped headlines in Manitoba and Saskatchewan 

 

 

Legal education and child welfare were in the spotlight in Alberta 

 

 

BC headlines included jurisdiction and repatriation 

 

 

FROM THE COURTS


The Supreme Court of Canada is hearing the Dickson v. Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation appeal this morning. Tune in live here and check out our colleague Kate Gunn’s backgrounder to learn more.

 

 

The Yukon Supreme Court weighed in on the duty to consult 

 

 

The Supreme Court of Canada granted leave to appeal in a case involving Treaty rights and limitations law 

 

 

FIRST PEOPLES LAW IN THE NEWS


Our colleague Kate Gunn was interviewed by IndigiNews on the Bill C-92 case. Check out Kate’s backgrounder on the case here to learn more. 

 

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK


The history of treatment of Indigenous people in Canada by the legal system, including the profession, warrants a requirement for those who practice law in Canada to be educated on this history.

- Koren Lightning-Earle, Legal Director, Wahkohtowin Law and Governance Lodge 

 

OFF THE BOOKSHELF


I tire so of hearing people say, / Let things take their course. / Tomorrow is another day.

- Langston Hughes, “Freedom [1]” from The Collected Works of Langston Hughes (2002)

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.