Feb 21-27, 2022

By Bruce McIvor and Cody O'Neil

This week’s edition includes consultation, caribou, Treaty rights, trespass laws, logging, night hunting, new court cases and more.

 

IN THE NEWS


Logging, consultation and Treaty rights were front and centre on the east coast 

 

 

Ontario news included gaming and resource revenue sharing 

 

 

Our client Peguis First Nation is defending its Treaty rights against Manitoba's restrictions on night hunting

 

 

It’s an honour to work with our friends at the Public Interest Law Centre in Winnipeg on an important court challenge to forestry practices in Manitoba 

 

 

It was also an honour to attend our client Pheasant Rump Nakota Nation's signing ceremony for their recognition agreement with Canada  

 

 

Trespass laws, Treaty rights and systemic racism returned to Saskatchewan headlines 

 

 

Health records were in the spotlight in Alberta

 

 

Salmon stocks topped BC headlines 

 

 

Lastly, language rights were back in NWT news 

 

 

FROM THE COURTS


The Ontario Superior Court weighed in on the duty to consult

 

 

The BC Court of Appeal ruled on a case involving Charter and Indigenous rights

 

 

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 not going to let the Province pass laws that violate our Treaty and erode our rights...We're going to stand up for our culture and make sure that these rights are still here for our future generations." 

- Chief Hudson, Peguis First Nation

 

OFF THE BOOKSHELF


"The land wants me to come back."

- Langston Hughes, "Dust Bowl" (1941)

 

SEE YOU SOON


We’re taking next week off. You’ll receive your next First Peoples Law Report on March 13th.

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.