Canada: Indigenous Peoples

The Indian Act's registration provisions have undergone multiple amendments to address sex-based discrimination, yet many First Nations membership codes still incorporate outdated eligibility criteria from the 1985 Act. Recent court decisions have found these membership codes unconstitutional when they perpetuate the same discriminatory provisions that were challenged and remedied through Bills C-3 and S-3, creating a two-tier citizenship system that disadvantages descendants of female ancestors compared to

The Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act imposes sweeping new registration and continuous disclosure obligations on individuals, businesses and organizations. It applies when acting under the direction of foreign states, state owned businesses, or other “foreign principals”. It also applies when merely working in association with a foreign principal.

Canada's Indian Act has defined Indigenous identity through registration systems for over 150 years, but the 1985 Bill C-31 amendments fundamentally changed how First Nations determine membership. This article examines the critical distinction between Indian status—a federal legal designation—and band membership, which many Nations now control through their own membership codes, exploring how these parallel systems shape Indigenous identity and rights today.

British Columbia's First Nations Equity Financing Program is now accepting applications, offering up to $1 billion in loan guarantees to support First Nations acquiring equity ownership in revenue-generating projects within their traditional territories. The Program aims to position First Nations as equity partners in economic development while reducing borrowing costs and unlocking access to capital for major infrastructure and resource projects.

Osler's Indigenous Law Insights webinar series presents a June 2026 session examining a copyright infringement case involving Indigenous artwork and the Supreme Court of British Columbia's decision in Lil'Wat Nation v. British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority. Legal and business professionals can gain practical insights into how these recent developments impact Indigenous law and policy across Canada.

A BC Supreme Court decision has quashed a substantial start determination for a major mining project, finding the Crown failed to adequately consult an Indigenous nation after the Province's understanding of their territorial claim evolved. The ruling examines how changing circumstances can trigger fresh consultation obligations even after environmental certificates are issued, and what constitutes "substantial start" under BC's environmental assessment regime.

For decades, over 4,000 residents of Pikangikum First Nation in northwestern Ontario have been denied reliable access to clean drinking water, with only 109 of 500 homes having working taps.

The Supreme Court of Canada is poised to hear a case that will affect the future of mining and natural resource projects in British Columbia and across Canada. For participants in British Columbia's mining industry...

On April 28, 2026, the federal government released Canada’s Spring Economic Update 2026 (the “ Update ”), continuing the “Build Canada Strong” agenda first set out in Budget 2025.