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Hamilton Spectator
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
New book offers an easy-to-read primer on Indigenous Rights
(ANNews) – 'This book is not intended for lawyers,' begins author Bruce McIvor in his new book Indigenous Rights in One Minute: What You Need to Know to Talk Reconciliation. 'It's meant for non-lawyers interested in Canada's commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, and how to make it a reality' (10). Dr. Bruce McIvor is uniquely equipped to help demystify the misconceptions or misunderstandings surrounding historical legal structures and policies after a distinguished career as an academic and jurist. He states in his biography posted on the First People's Law website: 'I was focused on working for social justice through an academic career in history until I began working in the law on what I expected to be a temporary basis. My work introduced me to a world of principled, high quality legal advocacy that led me back to university for a law degree and, eventually, to establish First Peoples Law.' McIvor is a partner in their Vancouver office and continues to be a strong voice for informative bridgebuilding between communities. His bio elaborates: 'First Peoples Law combines my passions for law, history and social justice. Most importantly, it allows me to work with other committed professionals in supporting Indigenous Peoples' ongoing struggle for respect and justice.' Sometimes it takes a lawyer to help demystify the intricacies of legal president, and that is what McIvor's 2025 publication seeks to do. 'Whether you're completely new to Indigenous rights, have a basic understanding, want a refresher on key principles or are hoping to win an argument with a friend, family member or co-worker, I hope you find Indigenous Rights in One Minute useful and informative. Most of all, I hope you find it simple and easy to read' (11). Indeed, universal accessibility informs the structure and organization of the book, and the same conversational tone carries throughout McIvor's explanation of historical contexts and sensitive discussions of colonial abuse and trauma. In fact, McIvor's explanations are straightforward enough that extremely raw and painful topics seem intellectually manageable. When unpacking the significance of what 'Land Back' refers to, McIvor diplomatically, and concisely provides the core information that a reader would need to then begin further investigations on their own. 'The Land Back movement requires Canadians to recognize the fundamental lie at the basis of the Canadian state – the lie that colonizers have simply claimed Indigenous land as their own and relegated Indigenous people to making a claim for their own land. Land Back is also about forging new relationships between Indigenous nations and the Crown that create space for Indigenous people to exercise their inherent rights and responsibilities to make decisions about their lands and benefit from them' (104). McIvor's structuring of the book is less of a page-turner, and more of an essential reference tool that every Canadian home should have. Instead of a traditional segmenting of topics into chapters, he has organized material by themes and provides brief explanations for key terms and legal structures using accessible language without embellishment. Literally, each of his entries can be read in close to a minute. 'The brief summaries in this book no more than scratch the surface on complicated issues' (205) yet make it possible for readers to better navigate their basic understanding of important, and often intimidating material. This is an innovative strategy for engaging diverse audiences from a spectrum of the demographic pool. The straightforward and almost conversational tone means that newcomers to Canada working on acclimating themselves with the country, and who may be experiencing language obstacles, can access this vital information to gain a more nuanced understanding of the new society they find themselves integrating into. In fact, this might be a great book to provide people before taking their citizenship tests. Indigenous Rights in One Minute: What You Need to Know to Talk Reconciliation, is an excellent resource for the already socially conscious, and those who may previously have been a bit bashful about their lack of knowledge. It is the sort of essential resource book that will establish itself as a necessity in every Canadian home. Just as the Elements of Style can still be found on any writer's bookshelf, this is a tool for engagement that should be made use of in daily life to make more informed comments and decisions and better navigate social interactions with sensitivity and compassion. Pick up a copy today, and the next time someone brings up something that is unfamiliar, let McIvor spell out the basics, in just around a minute.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pierre Poilievre's record on Indigenous rights concerns advocates
In an election ad, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks to a bust of John A. Macdonald about the importance of developing national projects like the Canadian Pacific Railway. "What do you think, prime minister? Could you get the railway built today?" Poilievre asks the bust. It's only the most recent way Poilievre has expressed his admiration for Canada's first prime minister — the man who got the railway built, but did it by displacing Indigenous Peoples using starvation and detention, and who also was a key proponent of the residential school system. Métis lawyer Bruce McIvor, a partner at First Peoples Law, says it's a worrying admiration. "Poilievre dreams of being a 21st century John A. MacDonald, and we can see that in what he's said so far," he said. Poilievre has referenced Macdonald in multiple campaign speeches this election. Over the years, he has also made social media posts celebrating Macdonald's birthday, talked about the need for more statues of the former PM and, in 2012, dressed up in period clothing to announce the renaming of an Ottawa building after Macdonald. In the two-and-a-half years since he became leader of the Conservative Party, Poilievre's pitch to Indigenous voters has focused on resource development and economic reconciliation but some Indigenous advocates say they are concerned about his record on issues like residential schools and Indigenous rights. Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre poses with a bust of Sir John A. Macdonald after announcing the former Bank of Montreal building would be renamed in honour of Canada's first prime minister during a ceremony in Ottawa, Ont., Wednesday January 11, 2012. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press) Residential school apology The same day in 2008 that Stephen Harper made a historic apology to former students of the residential school system, Poilievre told an Ottawa talk radio show survivors did not need more compensation but instead required a better work ethic. "Along with this apology comes another $4 billion in compensation for those who partook in the residential schools over those years. Now, some of us are starting to ask, are we really getting value for all of this money," he said. "My view is that we need to engender the values of hard work, independence, and self-reliance." The next day, he was called on in Parliament to make his own apology, which he did. Voted against UNDRIP bill During a 2021 debate over the bill to make Canadian laws consistent with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Poilievre said, "I am very proud to say that I oppose this bill." He said that free, prior and informed consent — a phrase that appears repeatedly in UNDRIP — "would mean a veto" for any First Nation that opposed a resource development project. He ultimately voted against the bill. When Poilievre addressed the Assembly of First Nations for the first time in person last summer, Judy Wilson, former chief of the Neskonlith Indian Band and former executive member of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, was one of Poilievre's critics. In addition to her concerns about his lack of support for UNDRIP, Wilson pointed out that Poilievre did not address missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, treaty rights or climate change in his speech. She said she remains concerned about his position on UNDRIP and free, prior and informed consent on issues affecting Indigenous Peoples, their lands and their communities. The issue of consent and consultation arose again when Poilievre visited the Arctic in February. On the trip he announced plans to create a new military base in Nunavut if a Conservative government is elected, but Premier P.J. Akeeagok said Poilievre had failed to consult with Northerners before the announcement. Election promises A caption for the Facebook ad featuring Poilievre talking to the bust of Macdonald said that Conservatives would "honour the legacy of Sir John A. Macdonald & unite our country with a Canada First National Energy Corridor." The energy corridor will be "pre-approved right away for pipelines, rail lines, power lines and other resource infrastructure," Poilievre says in the ad. Métis lawyer and historian Bruce McIvor says talk of pre-approval for infrastructure projects 'is very concerning.' (Submitted by Bruce McIvor) McIvor said he's worried about that. "The government can't come forward with proposals that have been pre-determined," he said, pointing to the duty to consult Indigenous Peoples affirmed by the Supreme Court. "So to hear the leader of the Conservatives say that they intend to greenlight projects before they've gone through consultation with Indigenous people is very concerning." Along the same lines, Poilievre has said he would grant permits for mining projects in Ontario's Ring of Fire within six months of being elected. Those rapid approvals, along with "pre-approving" energy corridor projects "is completely contrary to fundamental principles of constitutional law," McIvor said. CBC Indigenous sent a list of questions to the Conservative campaign about Poilievre's record and his current policies. A Conservative campaign spokesperson provided a statement which did not directly answer any of CBC Indigenous's questions, but said that Poilievre has prioritized speaking with Indigenous leaders and community members to inform his campaign's policies. The energy corridor was one of two policies highlighted by the spokesperson. The other policy was the First Nations resource charge, which was developed by the bi-partisan First Nations Tax Commission, and would allow First Nations to opt-in to the chance to directly tax resource development projects on their lands. Ch'íyáqtel (Tzeachten) Chief Derek (Weli'leq) Epp, who works with the First Nations Tax Commission, said the commission presented the policy to multiple parties. "With the Conservatives endorsing this, yes, it sends an important signal that Canada is committed to Indigenous economic justice," he said. While the Conservatives have been the only ones to adopt it outright, Epp said he's seen parts of it in Liberal policies as well. "It's great that the Conservative government is championing this, but this isn't new," Epp said, adding that the idea has been around for well over a decade. When Conservatives announced the proposed policy in 2023, one critic called it "a great idea for the 1990s." Concerns about resource charge John Desjarlais, executive director of the Indigenous Resource Network, a non-partisan organization that promotes economic development, said he is pleased by the approach of the resource charge, especially as it respects First Nations autonomy. However, he said there are some concerns about how the policy will be applied. "I think there's worry that [the relationship between community and industry] will be lost and they'll lose their ability to negotiate and develop the things that matter to them," said Desjarlais, who is Cree-Métis. Since the policy was first announced, it has been unclear if it would allow nations to tax projects on their traditional territories or only on reserve lands. Epp said the resource tax should apply to traditional territories, calling that "integral to the proposal." Desjarlais said if it only applied to reserves, "We'd certainly be less excited or less interested because its application would be far less impactful." While he looks forward to streamlining some of the bureaucratic processes and speeding up project timelines, Desjarlais said the policy presents concerns about the potential for governments to discharge their responsibilities on consultation. Epp said he doesn't have any concerns about the government abdicating its obligations to First Nations. "There still is the right to UNDRIP," he said. Desjarlais said he is encouraged to see "less government, less paternalism, less siphoning of the resources that can come directly to communities," from the Conservative adoption of the resource tax policy. However, he said, during a campaign it's hard to tell what is real and what is rhetoric. "Will those promises be honoured? Generally, I think that's our concern," Desjarlais said.
CBC
07-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Pierre Poilievre's record on Indigenous rights concerns advocates
Others pleased by proposed First Nations resource charge In an election ad, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks to a bust of John A. Macdonald about the importance of developing national projects like the Canadian Pacific Railway. "What do you think, prime minister? Could you get the railway built today?" Poilievre asks the bust. It's only the most recent way Poilievre has expressed his admiration for Canada's first prime minister — the man who got the railway built, but did it by displacing Indigenous Peoples using starvation and detention, and who also was a key proponent of the residential school system. Métis lawyer Bruce McIvor, a partner at First Peoples Law, says it's a worrying admiration. "Poilievre dreams of being a 21st century John A. MacDonald, and we can see that in what he's said so far," he said. Poilievre has referenced Macdonald in multiple campaign speeches this election. Over the years, he has also made social media posts celebrating Macdonald's birthday, talked about the need for more statues of the former PM and, in 2012, dressed up in period clothing to announce the renaming of an Ottawa building after Macdonald. In the two-and-a-half years since he became leader of the Conservative Party, Poilievre's pitch to Indigenous voters has focused on resource development and economic reconciliation but some Indigenous advocates say they are concerned about his record on issues like residential schools and Indigenous rights. Image | Building Renamed 20120111 TOPIX Caption: Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre poses with a bust of Sir John A. Macdonald after announcing the former Bank of Montreal building would be renamed in honour of Canada's first prime minister during a ceremony in Ottawa, Ont., Wednesday January 11, 2012. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press) Open Image in New Tab Residential school apology The same day in 2008 that Stephen Harper made a historic apology to former students of the residential school system, Poilievre told an Ottawa talk radio show survivors did not need more compensation but instead required a better work ethic. "Along with this apology comes another $4 billion in compensation for those who partook in the residential schools over those years. Now, some of us are starting to ask, are we really getting value for all of this money," he said. "My view is that we need to engender the values of hard work, independence, and self-reliance." The next day, he was called on in Parliament to make his own apology, which he did. Voted against UNDRIP bill During a 2021 debate over the bill to make Canadian laws consistent with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Poilievre said,"I am very proud to say that I oppose this bill." He said that free, prior and informed consent — a phrase that appears repeatedly in UNDRIP — "would mean a veto" for any First Nation that opposed a resource development project. He ultimately voted against the bill. When Poilievre addressed the Assembly of First Nations for the first time in person last summer, Judy Wilson, former chief of the Neskonlith Indian Band and former executive member of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, was one of Poilievre's critics. In addition to her concerns about his lack of support for UNDRIP, Wilson pointed out that Poilievre did not address missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, treaty rights or climate change in his speech. She said she remains concerned about his position on UNDRIP and free, prior and informed consent on issues affecting Indigenous Peoples, their lands and their communities. The issue of consent and consultation arose again when Poilievre visited the Arctic in February. On the trip he announced plans to create a new military base in Nunavut if a Conservative government is elected, but Premier P.J. Akeeagok said Poilievre had failed to consult with Northerners before the announcement. Election promises A caption for the Facebook ad featuring Poilievre talking to the bust of Macdonald said that Conservatives would "honour the legacy of Sir John A. Macdonald & unite our country with a Canada First National Energy Corridor." The energy corridor will be "pre-approved right away for pipelines, rail lines, power lines and other resource infrastructure," Poilievre says in the ad. McIvor said he's worried about that. "The government can't come forward with proposals that have been pre-determined," he said, pointing to the duty to consult Indigenous Peoples affirmed by the Supreme Court. "So to hear the leader of the Conservatives say that they intend to greenlight projects before they've gone through consultation with Indigenous people is very concerning." Along the same lines, Poilievre has said he would grant permits for mining projects in Ontario's Ring of Fire within six months of being elected. Those rapid approvals, along with "pre-approving" energy corridor projects "is completely contrary to fundamental principles of constitutional law," McIvor said. CBC Indigenous sent a list of questions to the Conservative campaign about Poilievre's record and his current policies. A Conservative campaign spokesperson provided a statement which did not directly answer any of CBC Indigenous's questions, but said that Poilievre has prioritized speaking with Indigenous leaders and community members to inform his campaign's policies. The energy corridor was one of two policies highlighted by the spokesperson. The other policy was the First Nations resource charge, which was developed by the bi-partisan First Nations Tax Commission, and would allow First Nations to opt-in to the chance to directly tax resource development projects on their lands. Ch'íyáqtel (Tzeachten) Chief Derek (Weli'leq) Epp, who works with the First Nations Tax Commission, said the commission presented the policy to multiple parties. "With the Conservatives endorsing this, yes, it sends an important signal that Canada is committed to Indigenous economic justice," he said. While the Conservatives have been the only ones to adopt it outright, Epp said he's seen parts of it in Liberal policies as well. "It's great that the Conservative government is championing this, but this isn't new," Epp said, adding that the idea has been around for well over a decade. When Conservatives announced the proposed policy in 2023, one critic called it " a great idea for the 1990s." Concerns about resource charge John Desjarlais, executive director of the Indigenous Resource Network, a non-partisan organization that promotes economic development, said he is pleased by the approach of the resource charge, especially as it respects First Nations autonomy. However, he said there are some concerns about how the policy will be applied. "I think there's worry that [the relationship between community and industry] will be lost and they'll lose their ability to negotiate and develop the things that matter to them," said Desjarlais, who is Cree-Métis. Since the policy was first announced, it has been unclear if it would allow nations to tax projects on their traditional territories or only on reserve lands. Epp said the resource tax should apply to traditional territories, calling that "integral to the proposal." Desjarlais said if it only applied to reserves, "We'd certainly be less excited or less interested because its application would be far less impactful." While he looks forward to streamlining some of the bureaucratic processes and speeding up project timelines, Desjarlais said the policy presents concerns about the potential for governments to discharge their responsibilities on consultation. Epp said he doesn't have any concerns about the government abdicating its obligations to First Nations. "There still is the right to UNDRIP," he said. Desjarlais said he is encouraged to see "less government, less paternalism, less siphoning of the resources that can come directly to communities," from the Conservative adoption of the resource tax policy. However, he said, during a campaign it's hard to tell what is real and what is rhetoric. "Will those promises be honoured? Generally, I think that's our concern," Desjarlais said.
