July 19-25, 2021

By Bruce McIvor and Cody O'Neil

This week's edition includes human rights, Treaty rights, consent, national parks, new court cases, UNDRIP, Land Back and more.

 

IN THE NEWS


Land use and consultation were front and centre in Mi’kma’ki

 

 

Consent, pipelines and Land Back returned to Quebec and Ontario news

 

 

Colonizer denial, UNDRIP and Residential School records were in the spotlight in Manitoba and Saskatchewan

 

 

Alberta news included national parks, mining and Métis governance

 

 

Human rights and land restitution topped BC headlines

 

 

Treaty rights and housing were back in NWT and Nunavut news

 

 

FROM THE COURTS


The Court of Appeal of Yukon ruled on Charter rights and Indigenous jurisdiction. Here is a backgrounder on the lower court decision by our colleagues Angela D’Elia Decembrini and Kate Gunn.

 

 

Here is the latest duty to consult decision from the Federal Court.

 

 

The Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench weighed in on Indigenous hunting rights. Here is a backgrounder on the lower court decision by our colleague Kate Gunn.

 

 

In case you missed it, check out Kate's new blog post on the Supreme Court's Southwind decision, a significant victory for First Nations seeking compensation for the illegal taking of their reserve lands.

 

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK


“If you look at the history of this country, any progress on Indigenous rights has been made through confrontation. And a lot of that confrontation happens on the land.”

- Hayden King, Yellowhead Institute Executive Director

 

OFF THE BOOKSHELF


"I see you; you see me; this is reciprocal; this reciprocity signals justice.” 

- Audra Simpson, Mohawk Interruptus: Political Life Across the Borders of Settler States (2014)

First Peoples Law is seeking a Director of Operations and Lawyer to join our growing team dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
As part of our commitment to supporting the development of Indigenous lawyers, First Peoples Law offers an annual $5,000 scholarship to an Indigenous law student with a demonstrated commitment to serving and advancing the interests of Indigenous Peoples. Deadline: July 31, 2021.
In light of recent news, 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.
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.
Check out our podcast featuring conversations on the defence of Indigenous rights!
Check out our free e-book Reconciliation on Trial: Wet'suwet'en, Aboriginal Title and the Rule of Law.
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.