Feb 14-20, 2022

By Bruce McIvor and Cody O'Neil

This week’s edition includes harvesting rights, language rights, Treaty rights, trespass laws, trapping and more.

 

IN THE NEWS


BC headlines included harvesting rights and marine response 

 

 

Education jurisdiction was back in Yukon news 

 

 

Treaty rights, trespass laws and trapping were front and centre in Alberta and Saskatchewan 

 

 

In Manitoba, language rights and policing were in the spotlight

 

 

Ontario news included consultation and COVID-19 

 

 

Muskrat Falls returned to east coast headlines 

 

 

Calls for justice for MMIWG2S continued across the country 

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS


I'm looking forward to being part of this UCLA Asia Pacific Center international panel on March 9th and speaking about Aboriginal title to the foreshore in Canada.

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK


“We’re trying to get as many youths back on the land, not only for trapping but to practice our inherent rights.” 

- Bobby Beaver, Treaty 8 Trappers’ Association 

 

OFF THE BOOKSHELF


"Dark is light."

- Simon J. Ortiz, "Culture and the Universe" in Out There Somewhere (2002)

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.