August 9-15, 2022

By Bruce McIvor and Cody O'Neil

This week’s edition includes UNDRIP, Treaty rights, specific claims, cannabis, Indigenous jurisdiction and more.

 

IN THE NEWS


Treaty rights returned to east coast news 

 

 

Ontario headlines included UNDRIP and nuclear waste 

 

 

Land rights were in the spotlight in Manitoba 

 

 

Specific claims and cannabis topped Saskatchewan news 

 

 

Indigenous jurisdiction and child welfare were hot topics in Alberta 

 

 

West coast news included fishing rights and protected areas

 

 

Harvesting rights were front and centre in Nunavut and the NWT 

 

 

FROM THE COURTS


The BC Supreme Court weighed in on UNDRIP and reconciliation in an intervenor application

 

 

EVENTS


I was honoured to have been invited to speak about Indigenous land rights and treaties at the Treaty 5 Summit at Lower Fort Garry last week. Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome and for sharing your stories and vision for the future.

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK


“...our vision is of a continuing and renewed relationship between our people and our lands, intact and whole.”

- Simogyet Gwininitxw Yvonne Lattie 

 

OFF THE BOOKSHELF


"If I’m transformed by language, I am often / crouched in footnote or blazing in title. / Where in the body do I begin;"

- Layli Long Soldier, "Whereas Statements" in Whereas (2017)

First Peoples Law is seeking additions to our growing team dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
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.
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 podcast featuring conversations on the defence of Indigenous rights.
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, 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.