August 30 - September 5, 2021

By Bruce McIvor and Cody O'Neil

This week's edition includes land defence, climate change, treaty rights, language rights, birth alerts and more.

 

IN THE NEWS


Treaty rights and climate change were front and centre on the east coast

 

 

Language rights returned to Quebec news

 

 

Energy sovereignty and land-based learning topped headlines in the Yukon and NWT

 

 

BC news included birth alerts, land defence and Aboriginal title

 

 

Treaty and human rights were in the international spotlight

 

 

FROM THE COURTS


The Ontario Court of Appeal weighed in on the honour of the Crown

 

 

The Federal Court ruled on an election tribunal decision

 

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK


“It is our inherent right to live by our own Anishinaabe laws that are our strength, identity and hope for the future.”

- Councillor Mary Laronde, Teme-Augama Anishnabai

 

OFF THE BOOKSHELF


“Even in this charred landscape of hell, hope remains nailed to what has survived.”

- Marie Clements, Burning Vision (2003)

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.
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 free e-book Reconciliation on Trial: Wet'suwet'en, Aboriginal Title and the Rule of Law.
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, and is a Fulbright Scholar. He is a member of the Manitoba Métis Federation.