June 13-19, 2022

By Bruce McIvor and Cody O'Neil

This week's edition includes UNDRIP, language rights, children’s rights, consultation, mining and more. 

 

IN THE NEWS


On the east coast, Indigenous jurisdiction and child welfare were front and centre

 

 

Bill 96 continues to top Quebec headlines 

 

 

Ontario news included consultation and children’s rights 

 

 

UNDRIP and mining were in the spotlight on the west coast 

 

 

Housing was a hot topic on the national stage 

 

 

INDIGENOUS RIGHTS IN ONE MINUTE


In case you missed it, check out my latest instalment of Indigenous Rights in One Minute: “Why do Indigenous people have special rights?” 

 

APPLY NOW! 2022 INDIGENOUS LAW STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP


As part of our commitment to supporting the development of Indigenous lawyers, First Peoples Law offers an annual scholarship to an Indigenous law student with a demonstrated commitment to serving and advancing the interests of Indigenous Peoples.

Applications for this year's $10,000 scholarship are now open! Click here to apply. 

You can also meet past recipients and download a poster on our website.

UPCOMING EVENTS


I'm honoured that my book, Standoff, is the central text for Osgoode Hall Law School's "In Search of Reconciliation Through Dispute Resolution." I'm looking forward to speaking to the class on July 19th. Learn more here.

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK


"The Chiefs expect more concrete measures, and for the UN Declaration to mean a serious shift to recognition of the inherent Rights of Indigenous peoples, through the abolition and replacement of federal policies and approaches mired in racism, denial and delay.”

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, Union of BC Indian Chiefs

 

OFF THE BOOKSHELF


"Colonialism is a mask obscuring the story of who we are and will always want to be."

- Lee Maracle, Memory Serves (2015)

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.