This week’s edition includes court appeals, land protection, child welfare, marine stewardship and more.
IN THE NEWS
National news included potential Indian Act amendments, court appeals, condemnation of Bill C-5, and consultation capacity concerns
Remove 2nd-generation cut-off from Indian Act, witnesses tell Senate committee | CBC News
Appeal in Chalk River nuclear waste case tests limits of First Nations consent | The Narwhal
Canada takes Oneida grandmother to appeal court in 'collateral attack' on Jordan's Principle, lawyer says | CBC News
“A Subjugation”: First Nations Chiefs Blast Carney’s Nation-Building Scheme | The Walrus
First Nations are getting flooded with requests to consult on projects—and it’s about to get worse | The Logic*
Land protection continues to make headlines in Nova Scotia
In Cape Breton, a fight to protect the land | The Globe and Mail*
In Quebec, two court actions involving nuclear waste storage and neglected infrastructure made the news
Algonquin First Nations urge appeal court to expand duty to consult in Chalk River case | CBC News
Atikamekw council launches legal action against Quebec for failing to fix 'road from hell' | CBC News
Food insecurity and a lawsuit regarding non-consensual experiments were top stories in Nunavut
Food-security expert: Nunavut in ‘worst hunger crisis’ she’s seen | APTN News
Former premier of Nunavut calls on Carney to stop victimizing Inuit | APTN News
In Ontario, a state of emergency, a potential constitutional challenge, and on-reserve education funding made the news
First Nations declare state of emergency on flow of illegal drugs, deaths in communities | Windspeaker.com
Algonquin tribal council ponders constitutional legal fight against City of Ottawa over Tewin | CBC News
First Nations educators worry 'ominous' funding letter will further impact classroom quality | CBC News
Moose hunting remains a top headline in Manitoba
Much ado about moose: Manitoba's hunting rift could help reconciliation or sow division | CBC News
Crown land auctions was a top story in Saskatchewan
Sask. reimposes moratorium on Crown land sales, takes down auction listings | CBC News
Alberta news featured Treaty rights, pipeline development, and child and family services
Opinion: Cleaner oil cannot come at the cost of First Nations' rights | Calgary Herald
Alberta’s pipeline pursuit could erode Indigenous support for infrastructure projects, B.C. First Nations leader says | The Globe and Mail
‘A historic moment’: Mikisew Cree First Nation opens new child and family services agency in Fort McMurray | CBC News
In BC, forestry, salmon revitalization, marine stewardship, and a milestone land transfer made headlines
What does First Nations ownership mean for B.C. forestry? | The Narwhal
Salmon released as fry in B.C. return up Columbia River | CBC News
3 Indigenous-led marine refuges established off B.C.'s North Coast | CBC News
Federal land in Nanaimo, B.C., added to Snuneymuxw First Nation reserve lands | CBC News
2025 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
We're excited to announce the winner, finalist and honourable mention of the 2025 Indigenous Law Student Scholarship. Thank you to everyone who applied and we're looking forward to carrying it on again next year.
Winner – Julie Albert
Finalist – Emily Sabourin
Honourable Mention – Joshua Gandier
Meet the recipients and learn more about the scholarship here.
WE'RE HIRING - 2026 SUMMER STUDENT
First Peoples Law is seeking a summer student to join our team in 2026. Applications close October 31.
Check out the details and how to apply here.
UPCOMING EVENT
Join Bruce McIvor and David A. Robertson for the Reconciliation and You event moderated by Michelle Cyca as part of the Vancouver Writers Fest.
October 22 @ 7:30 pm– Vancouver, BC
Click here for more details and to register.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Canada passed a law to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights on Indigenous Peoples. Canada passed a Species at Risk Act to protect fragile life and ecosystems. Yet here we are having to remind the government to follow its own laws.
- Chief Lance Haymond, Kebaowek First Nation
OFF THE BOOKSHELF
I been scarred and battered.
My hopes the wind done scattered.
Snow has friz me,
Sun has baked me,
Looks like between ’em they done
Tried to make me
Stop laughin’, stop lovin’, stop livin’ —
But I don’t care!
I’m still here!
- Langston Hughes, “Still Here” (1958)
*Denotes an article that is paywalled and may require a subscription to access.
