With the Indigenous visit to the Vatican this week, I was interviewed about the Papal Bulls and how the Doctrine of Discovery is at the root of Canada's failing reconciliation project
I’ll be speaking about reconciliation and the Pope's apology at the Unitarian Church in North Vancouver today at 10:30am. Come out and join us and pick up an autographed copy of my book. For friends outside Vancouver, you can watch online.
I’m really looking forward to joining Johnny Mack and Stepan Wood tomorrow at 12:30pm pacific for a book talk on Standoff. Book sale proceeds will go to the Indigenous Law Students' Association bursary fund.
I’m also looking forward to this forum and discussion on Standoff at the Unitarian Church of Vancouver on April 10th at 12:45pm. Come join us and pick up an autographed copy.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Even a casual observer can see that Canada's playing a crooked game using a stacked deck with Indigenous rights at stake."
"The court may as well speak of magic crystals being sprinkled on the land as a justification for the diminution of Aboriginal occupation and possession."
- John Borrows, Recovering Canada: The Resurgence of Indigenous Law (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.
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 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.
