THE IBA CONGRATULATES HELEN G. SEMAGANIS ON HER QUEEN’S COUNSEL DESIGNATION

January 13, 2021FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OTTAWA, ONT – The Indigenous Bar Association in Canada (the “IBA”) congratulates Helen Gertrude Semaganis on her Queen’s Counsel designation. Helen Semaganis is a member of the Poundmaker Cree Nation in Saskatchewan and was called to the Bar in 1996. Helen has practised in the areas of family, employment, wills … Continued

THE IBA CONGRATULATES JUSTICE ARDITH WALKEM ON HER APPOINTMENT TO THE BRITISH COLUMBIA SUPREME COURT

January 12, 2020FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OTTAWA, ON – The Indigenous Bar Association in Canada (the “IBA”) congratulates Justice Ardith (Walpetko We’dalx) Walkem on her appointment to the British Columbia Supreme Court. Justice Walkem is a member of the Nlaka’pamux Nation who has practiced in the areas of Aboriginal and Indigenous law since she was called … Continued

Join Indigenous thinkers, community leaders, and grassroots organizations calling for immediate justice and policing reform.

IBA DEMANDS ALL LEVELS OF CANADIAN GOVERNMENT MAKE SUBSTANTIVE AND FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES TO CANADIAN POLICING FOLLOWING MULTIPLE DEATHS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE BY POLICE

June 17, 2020FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OTTAWA, ONT – The Indigenous Bar Association in Canada (the “IBA”) expresses outrage and dismay at the continued use of excessive and deadly force by police in Canada against Indigenous Peoples. Rooted in colonialism, the systemic racism and violence against Indigenous Peoples must end. The time for substantive and fundamental … Continued

IBA STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT AND CALLS UPON FEDERAL, PROVINCIAL AND TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENTS AND THE MEDIA TO PUT AN END TO SYSTEMIC ANTI-BLACK RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION IN CANADA

June 7, 2020FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OTTAWA, ONT – The Indigenous Bar Association in Canada (the “IBA”) stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement in Canada and the United States and the protests that have emerged following the deaths of Regis Korchinski-Paquet, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and so many other … Continued

IBA’s 32nd Annual Fall Conference

April 30, 2020 Dear Members of the Indigenous Bar Association in Canada and Esteemed IPCs, RE: IBA’s 32nd Annual Fall Conference I am writing in my capacity as the President of the Indigenous Bar Association in Canada (the “IBA”) with respect to our 32nd Annual Fall Conference scheduled for October 8, 9 and 10, 2020 … Continued

INDIGENOUS BAR ASSOCIATION CALLS UPON FEDERAL, PROVINCIAL AND TERRITORIAL JUSTICE MINISTERS AND ATTORNEYS GENERAL TO IMMEDIATELY RELEASE LOW-RISK INDIGENOUS INMATES OVER COVID-19

April 23, 2020FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OTTAWA, ON – The Indigenous Bar Association in Canada ( “IBA”) calls on federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Justice and Attorneys General to immediately release low-risk Indigenous people who are currently incarcerated. For clarity, we define low-risk as anything below dangerous offender, which is a specific designation. With respect … Continued

THE INDIGENOUS BAR ASSOCIATION CALLS FOR AN INQUIRY INTO THE DEATH OF 16-YEAR-OLD INDIGENOUS GIRL SHOT AND KILLED BY WINNIPEG POLICE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 15, 2020 OTTAWA, ON – The Indigenous Bar Association (“IBA”) expresses profound outrage and dismay at the disproportionate use of force by a member of the Winnipeg Police Service (“WPS”) who shot and killed Eishia Hudson, a 16-year old Indigenous girl last week. Despite numerous calls by local Indigenous and human rights … 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