Feb 7-13, 2022

By Bruce McIvor and Cody O'Neil

This week’s edition includes Treaty rights, Charter rights, language rights, child welfare, gaming laws, new court cases and more.

 

IN THE NEWS


Harvesting rights and racism returned to east coast headlines 

 

 

Gaming laws and Indigenous rights were front and centre in Ontario 

 

 

In Saskatchewan, Treaty rights and trespass laws were back in the spotlight 

 

 

Language rights and pandemic restrictions were also hot topics on the prairies

 

 

Wet’suwet’en land defenders called on the United Nations 

 

 

West coast news also included fishing rights and environmental assessments 

 

 

FROM THE COURTS


The Federal Court of Appeal weighed in on Treaty rights 

 

 

The Quebec Court of Appeal ruled on the federal government’s Indigenous child welfare law 

 

 

The Nova Scotia Supreme Court certified a class action concerning Aboriginal and Charter rights 

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS


I'm looking forward to being part of this UCLA Asia Pacific Center international panel on March 9th and speaking about Aboriginal title to the foreshore in Canada.

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK


"Wet’suwet’en is an international frontline to protect the rights of Indigenous peoples and to prevent climate change. Yet we are intimidated and surveilled by armed RCMP, smeared as terrorists, and dragged through colonial courts. This is the reality of Canada.” 

- Sleydo’, Gidimt’en Checkpoint spokesperson  

 

OFF THE BOOKSHELF


“Law that lets them, caught red-handed, / Halt the game and leave it stranded...” 

- Thomas Kinsella, “Butcher’s Dozen” (1972)

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.