Aboriginal Law Report

Faced with protests and accusations of a lack of impartiality, the National Energy Board's Energy East pipeline panel resigned. 

Here are my initial thoughts on the Energy East debacle.

• What Next for the NEB and Energy East?

The British Columbia provincial cabinet's annual meeting with Indigenous leaders sparked a debate over a perceived lack of progress in implementing the 2014 Tsilhqot'in decision.

• Grand Chief urges Christy Clark to quit "story time" and get down to business
• Editorial: First Nations-business agreement sets positive tone
• Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs leader blasts province at First Nations gathering
• Comment: This can be the ‘Age of Reconciliation’ for B.C.
• B.C. First Nations and business community set their sights on economic reconciliation
• SMOKESCREENS FOR THE REAL ISSUES: TITLE AND RIGHTS
• Les Leyne: Cabinet, chiefs meeting short on action

In British Columbia, efforts were made to educate non-Indigenous people about traditional fishing methods.

• Traditional salmon fishing on Capilano River raises complaints

In the Maritimes, opposition against the spraying of herbicides continued to grow.

• Mi’kmaq want consultation on glyphosate use

An upcoming hearing at the Federal Court of Appeal in Montreal continues to focus criticism of the Site C dam on the Peace River.

• Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs leader blasts province on Site C decision
• Site C dam opponents make Edmonton stop on cross-country trip
• First Nations protesting B.C. dam come to Saskatoon
• Site C Dam Project Undermines Trudeau's Promise To Indigenous Peoples: Bellegarde

A Northwest Territories community celebrated its self-government agreement after nearly two decades of negotiations.

• 'We were very fortunate': Deline's negotiation team emerges intact after 20 years

The federal Justice Minister took another stab at explaining her government's position on implementing UNDRIP.

• Justice minister lays out vision for UN Indigenous rights declaration
• Wilson-Raybould lays out vision for UN indigenous rights declaration

Over a year later, Albertans are still waiting for the provincial government to comment on a report highly critical of its Athabasca region land-use policy.

• Land-use policy panel still waiting for response from Alberta government

In Nova Scotia, opposition to natural gas storage in salt caverns continued.

• Alton Gas critics don't trust company's river research, so they're doing their own

An Indigenous academic considered the continuing significance of Indian Act status.

• Indian status: Why are we still hanging on?

The impact of the 60's Scoop continued to considered.

• Doug Cuthand: Legacy of '60s scoop will prove costly for Canada

From the Courts

Musqueam Indian Band's appeal regarding its property assessment bylaw was dismissed by the Supreme Court of Canada.

• B.C. First Nation loses fight to tax Vancouver golf club as residential land
• Musqueam Indian Band v. Musqueam Indian Band (Board of Review), 2016 SCC 36

Tsawwassen First Nation was added as a defendant to an Aboriginal title claim filed by Cowichan Tribes.

• Cowichan Tribes v. Canada (Attorney General), 2016 BCSC 1660  

Another Aboriginal title claim was filed in B.C.

SHXW’ŌWHÀMEL FIRST NATION Press Release

Quote of the Week

"Canada has never come to terms with First Nations people and our special place within the fabric of this country."

Doug Cuthand

Off the Bookshelf

"The early twentieth-first century has seen increased exploitation of energy resources begetting new pressures on Indigenous lands. Exploitation by the largest corporations, often in collusion with politicians at local, state, and federal levels, and even within some Indigenous governments, could spell a final demise for Indigenous land bases and resources."

Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States (2014) 

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

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