Jan 3-9, 2022

By Bruce McIvor and Cody O'Neil

Happy New Year. This week's edition includes human rights, Treaty rights, language rights, logging, land defence, UNDRIP, policing and more.

 

IN THE NEWS


Human rights, child welfare and compensation returned to national headlines

 

 

Forestry, UNDRIP and land defence were back in BC news 

 

 

Policing and systemic racism were in the spotlight in Alberta 

 

 

Ontario is appealing the Restoule case to the Supreme Court  

 

 

Climate change and Indigenous knowledge were front and centre on the east coast 

 

 

NWT news included traditional naming and language rights

 

 

FROM THE COURTS


The BC Supreme Court ruled on Saik'uz and Stellat'en First Nations’ action against Rio Tinto 

 

 

The Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench weighed in on the honour of the Crown 

 

 

FIRST PEOPLES LAW IN THE NEWS


I was interviewed by the Lawyer’s Daily about my new book on Canada’s failing reconciliation project and what can be done to fix it.

 

 

YEAR IN REVIEW 


In case you missed it, check out our Indigenous rights “Year in Review” countdown featuring updates on cross-border rights, Treaty rights, advance costs and more. 

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS


I'll be joining a panel discussion on UNDRIP implementation in Canada at the Forward Summit on February 2nd at 1:30pm mountain. The full agenda is available here.

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK


"No child's life is better today than it was yesterday because of these words on paper. We have to see the government actually deliver this stuff."

- Dr. Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director, First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada

 

OFF THE BOOKSHELF


"Changing is not vanishing."

- Carlos Montezuma, "Changing Is Not Vanishing" (1916)

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 new podcast episode featuring a conversation between First Peoples Law's Indigenous Law Student Scholarship winners!
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, and is a Fulbright Scholar. He is a member of the Manitoba Métis Federation.