March 1 - 7, 2023

By Bruce McIvor and Cody O'Neil

This week’s edition includes land defence, consultation, class actions, human rights and more.

 

IN THE NEWS


Land defence was in the spotlight on the west coast 

 

 

Ontario news featured mining and consultation 

 

 

Racism and legal action were front and centre in Alberta 

 

 

Forestry, consultation and Aboriginal title topped east coast headlines 

 

 

Treaties, class actions and human rights returned to national news 

 

 

In case you missed it, check out my blog post on the doctrine of discovery for the 200th anniversary of Johnson v. M'Intosh

 

 

FROM THE COURTS


The Nunavut Court of Justice weighed in on a certificate of pending litigation 

 

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK


We’ve had it happen too many times in the past where government will come to us late in the game without adequate resources for full consultation. Here’s a few dollars for a table top. Let’s do something really quick that will address your claims. It doesn’t.

Chief George Ginnish, Natoaganeg First Nation 

 

OFF THE BOOKSHELF


I never understood how foreigners could come and tell us where to die and where to live. Where to be buried and how to breed. 

- Tanya Tagaq, Split Tooth (2018)

 

First Peoples Law is seeking additions to our growing team dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
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.
Bruce McIvor's clear, plain answers to frequently asked questions about Indigenous rights.
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.
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, 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.