INDIGENOUS BAR ASSOCIATION IN CANADA RESPONDS TO STATEMENTS REGARDING INDIGENOUS LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS IN COURTROOMS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 13 July 2021 OTTAWA, ONT – On May 25th, 2021, Federal Court Justice Richard Bell voiced his strong objections to the practice of recognizing traditional and unceded Indigenous lands within courtroom procedures. In response to these comments, the Indigenous Bar Association in Canada (the “IBA”) wishes to express its extreme disappointment.[1]  During … Continued

THE INDIGENOUS BAR ASSOCIATION CONTINUES TO MOURN GENERATIONS OF INDIGENOUS CHILDREN VICTIMIZED BY CANADIAN RESIDENTIAL “SCHOOL” SYSTEMS

For Immediate Release Wednesday, June 30, 2021 For those presently in need of support during these trying times, the IBA urges you to contact the Residential School Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419, or the Indigenous Residential School Survivors’ Society at 1-800-721-0066. Ottawa, ONT – Following the recent announcement of several-hundred unmarked gravesites located within Cowessess First … Continued

THE INDIGENOUS BAR ASSOCIATION IN CANADA GRIEVES WITH THE TK’EMLUPS TE SECWEPEMC AND ALL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN CANADA WHO CONTINUE TO SUFFER THE EFFECTS OF GENOCIDE

For Immediate Release Friday, June 11, 2021 OTTAWA, ON – The members of the Indigenous Bar Association in Canada (the “IBA”) are horrified by the discovery of the remains of 215 children on the reserve of the Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc near the Kamloops residential school. The members of the IBA, many of whom are related … Continued

THE IBA DENOUNCES DOMESTIC TERRORISM AFFLICTED ON MI’KMAW FISHERIES, AND CALLS UPON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO TAKE IMMEDIATE STEPS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF MI’KMAW FISHERIES IN MI’KMA’KI

October 16, 2020FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OTTAWA – The Indigenous Bar Association (IBA) in Canada denounces the attack by non-Indigenous fishermen on Mi’kmaw harvesters providing a livelihood and food for their families and community in Mi’kma’ki (what is currently known as Nova Scotia). The recent violent and disturbing acts of terrorism are directly linked to the … Continued

INDIGENOUS BAR ASSOCIATION CHALLENGES PREMIER’S UNDERSTANDING OF LAW

April 10, 2020 By Alexandria Winterburn, Member-at-large and Brooks Arcand-Paul, Vice President Premier Brian Pallister’s response to the proposed federal legislation on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (“UN Declaration”) implies Premier Pallister has a callow and concerning  understanding of Aboriginal and Treaty rights and the fundamental history and laws of … Continued

THE IBA CALLS ON CANADA TO ASSIST WITH THE PROTECTION OF INDIGENOUS LAWS AND TO SECURE SPACE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRACTICE OF SUCH LAWS

Indigenous Bar Association optimistic for national engagement on the recognition of indigenous rights legal framework

OTTAWA – The Indigenous Bar Association (IBA) wishes to express its optimism with the announcement made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on February 14, 2018 to implement necessary reform in the federal government’s relationship with Indigenous people. We remain optimistic that the goals for reform outlined by the Prime Minister for national engagement will create … Continued

The Indigenous Bar Association commends the University of Victoria on the introduction of a new joint degree program in Canadian common law and indigenous legal orders

OTTAWA, ON – The IBA enthusiastically applauds the University of Victoria’s development of a joint degree program in Canadian Common Law and Indigenous Legal Orders. Students will graduate after four years with a Juris Doctor and a Juris Indigenarum Doctor (JID). News was released last week confirming funding in the provincial budget. This will be … Continued

The Indigenous Bar Association in Canada (the “IBA”) is delighted to announce the favourable decision in Williams Lake Indian band v Canada (aboriginal affairs and northern development), 2018 scc 4

Ottawa, ON – The decision, released on Friday, February 2, 2018, concerned whether the Crown in right of Canada (“Canada”) could be held responsible under the Specific Claims Tribunal Act for losses arising from events that occurred pre-Confederation. It also considered whether, if Canada could be held responsible, Canada had owed, and breached, a fiduciary … Continued

60s Scoop Decision

The Indigenous Bar Association wishes to recognize the recent Ontario Superior Court decision, Brown v Canada (Attorney General) 2017 ONSC 251 concerning certain victims of the “60’s Scoop”. The decision marks a turning point in Canadian jurisprudence and a step forward for reconciliation, particularly for those Indigenous people whose forced removal from their childhood homes resulted in the … Continued