Aboriginal Law Report

In the News

On-the-ground opposition to BC Hydro's Site C dam on the Peace River intensified.

• B.C. Site C dam protesters dig in and prepare for arrest
• B.C. Hydro reviewing its options on Site C protest encampment
• First Nations land occupation aims to stop Site C
• 3 protesters arrested at Site C dam project
• Despite eviction notice, Site C protesters say they're not going anywhere
• B.C. Hydro orders protesters off land slated for logging near Site C dam
• Daphne Bramham: Forget Oregon, high-stakes standoff taking place right here in B.C.
• Grand chief to BC Hydro: 'back off'

The debate in Saskatchewan over revenue sharing with First Nations continued.

• Saskatchewan NDP leadership candidate Ryan Meili lights resource-sharing powderkeg

Sharply contrasting views were expressed on the economic future for First Nations.

• Jeffrey Simpson: Are isolated reserves too small to succeed?
• Barbara Yaffe: Ignore First Nations at your peril, says chief

The Saskatchewan provincial government was criticized for interfering with Indigenous peoples' harvesting rights.

• Indigenous hunters say treaty rights being violated by Saskatchewan
• Indigenous hunters in Manitoba say treaty rights violated by Saskatchewan
• Premier Brad Wall says Saskatchewan not bullying indigenous hunters

The British Columbia treaty process was back in the news.

• Treaty process faces uphill battle
• Tla’amin Nation readies for treaty

Three Indigenous lawyers shared their views on the current state of the law.

• Aboriginal lawyers hopeful about the future of indigenous law in Canada

A practical example of enforcing Indigenous laws was discussed.

• First Nations, courts search for ways to use aboriginal customs and laws

The debate about the First Nation Financial Transparency Act continued.

• Forcing reports to Ottawa undermines First Nations accountability
• Don’t force First Nations members to wait for financial accountability

An Indigenous scholar spoke on the Métis as treaty people.

• Lecture by Dr. Adam Gaudry (Youtube)

From the Courts

The amount the Yukon has spent on the Peel River Watershed case was in the news.

• Whitehorse Daily Star: Government’s legal fees for Peel case are nearing $300,000, figures show

Quote of the Week

“For too long we’ve been left out of the game. If you partner with First Nations, we can be the best partner you’ll ever have. If you don’t want to work with us, we can be your worst enemy as well.”

AFN Regional Chief Shane Gottfriedson

"Euro-American colonialism, an aspect of the capitalist economic globalization, had from its beginnings a genocidal tendency."

Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States (2015)

My Two Bits

Voting requirements for modern treaties (audio file).

Bruce McIvor, lawyer and historian, is principal of First Peoples Law Corporation.

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