August 1-8, 2022

By Bruce McIvor and Cody O'Neil

This week’s edition includes governance, injunctions, land defence, language rights, specific claims and more.

 

IN THE NEWS


UNDRIP and consent-based decision-making were back in BC news 

 

 

Yukon news included Indigenous law and land use planning 

 

 

Specific claims were in the spotlight in Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia  

 

 

Child welfare and Charter rights were front and centre in Manitoba

 

 

Injunctions and language rights topped Nunavut news 

 

 

Ontario headlines included Indigenous rights and land back 

 

 

Harvesting rights returned to Quebec news 

 

 

In case you missed it, check out our colleague Kate Gunn’s latest blog post on the Dickson v. Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation litigation and its implications for Indigenous law and governance across the country 

 

 

$10,000 INDIGENOUS LAW STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP


Applications for this year's scholarship are now closed. Thanks to everyone who applied. We'll be announcing the winner on our website next month.

We look forward to carrying it on next year.

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK


“The Doctrine of Discovery is a deadly weapon of colonization that was advanced by the Catholic Church and European monarchies to legitimize their ruthless and violent theft of stolen lands that have been occupied by Indigenous peoples since time immemorial and Canadian law continues to rely heavily on the Doctrine, which is now called ‘assumed Crown sovereignty.’” 

- Union of BC Indian Chiefs 

 

OFF THE BOOKSHELF


“I long out of loving, / and love out of longing; / that one day we might be free.”

- Greg Young-Ing, "Expression" in Gatherings (1991)

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.