Aboriginal Law Report

The Federal Court of Appeal's Enbridge decision was debated.

• Editorial: Ottawa must challenge Enbridge ruling
• Graham Thomson: Northern Gateway court ruling helps explain why we've failed to get new pipelines built
• Gitga'at councillor heartbroken watching grandmothers fight Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline
• Ignoring First Nations concerns costs Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline

In the Yukon, First Nations can now register their Aboriginal title lands.

• New legislation allows First Nations to register land without losing title
• Whitehorse Daily Star: Historic agreement reached between KDFN and YG
• Kwanlin Dün sign deal to retain Aboriginal title on leased lands

The federal government trumpeted proposed changes to the British Columbia treaty process while a First Nation prepared for a second vote on a once-rejected treaty.

• Costly B.C. treaty process undergoing 'exciting' reform: feds
• LTFN treaty info subject of open house

A British newspaper considered the situation of Indigenous urban Canadians.

• State of the First Nations: indigenous Canadians are reclaiming the city

Northern British Columbia First Nations met to discuss investing in major resource development projects.

• First Nations coalition to buy into major projects

In Nova Scotia a natural gas project is proceeding despite opposition from Sipekne’katik First Nation.

• Alton Natural Gas Storage moving ahead with construction near Stewiacke
• Alton Gas moving ahead with construction near Stewiacke

• Wendy Holm: Why all the fuss over the Site C dam?
• Vancouver protesters claim 'fiscally mismanaged' Site C dam violates human rights, destroys environment
• McLeod Lake Indian Band signs Site C benefits deal

The British Columbia provincial government responded to a Treaty 8 First Nation's recent report on the destruction of their territory due to the cumulative effects of resource exploitation.

• Province fires back on Blueberry River FN's cumulative effects claims

The British Columbia provincial government was criticized for belittling opposition to a proposed LNG project on the north coast.

• Opinion: Petronas decision is a watershed moment

Finally, thanks to Paul Joffe for correcting the record on 'veto' vs 'consent'.

• July 5: Property values, respecting the flag, First Nations 'veto'

From the Courts

There was further discussion of a recent duty to consult court challenge to Yukon's free-entry mining claim system.

• Whitehorse Daily Star: ‘Free entry’ staking policy faces more court action

Quote of the Week

“The more we organise ourselves into those categories of on-reserve and off-reserve, the more we naturalise the idea that indigenous people only belong on reserves.”

Professor Sarah Hunt

Off the Bookshelf

"The fact is, Big Bear was right in almost everything he claimed and everything he tried to do."

Hugh A. Dempsey, Big Bear: The End of Freedom (1984)

Bruce McIvor, lawyer and historian, is principal of First Peoples Law Corporation.  Download Bruce's bio.

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