September 18 - 24, 2024

Weeniibiikiisagaygun has unselfishly kept people, animals, and fish alive for thousands of years. Now she is dying as Manitoba Hydro profits.
- Grand Chief Jerry Daniels, Southern Chiefs’ Organization

OFF THE BOOKSHELF

I am laying claim to the sovereignty of my stories.
- Joshua Whitehead, Making Love with the Land (2022)

Join our Team!

First Peoples Law is seeking additions to our growing team dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

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Indigenous Peoples and the Law in Canada 2024

First Peoples Law is the author of Indigenous Peoples and the Law in Canada: Cases and Commentary. 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.

AVAILABLE HERE

Indigenous Rights in One Minute

Bruce McIvor's clear, plain answers to frequently asked questions about Indigenous rights.

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Standoff

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.

Residential School Reading List

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.

READING LIST

First Peoples Lawcast

Check out our podcast featuring conversations on the defence of Indigenous rights.

LISTEN HERE

First Peoples Law Report

Your weekly news update on Indigenous rights from First Peoples Law.

Who We Are

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.

CHAT WITH US

Bruce McIvor

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.

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September 18 - 24, 2024

This week’s edition includes clean water, policing, aboriginal title, harvesting rights and more.

IN THE NEWS

National news included clean water, a healthcare apology and policing

Maritimes headlines centered on fishing rights and provincial elections

Mining and healthcare topped headlines in Quebec

Clean water, housing, policing, and land protection were top stories in Ontario

Manitoba news featured water rights and land claims

Saskatchewan’s top story was about Métis organizations

Mining returned to the news in Alberta

The top story in the Northwest Territories focused on harvesting rights

Revenue sharing and mining made news in the Yukon

Community health, aboriginal title, child welfare and health data topped the news in British Columbia

CLIENTS IN THE NEWS

Temagami First Nation and Teme-Augama Anishnabai are exercising their inherent jurisdiction to ban aerial spraying within their territory.

FPL is honoured to work alongside the Public Interest Law Centre with the Southern Chiefs Organization on their claim to protect Lake Winnipeg and advance its rights as a living entity

FROM THE COURTS

Last week, the Federal Court weighed in on a wills and estates matter

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

OFF THE BOOKSHELF

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