Sheryl Lightfoot

B.C. fast-tracks critical minerals mining to counter tariffs | The Narwhal Observers worry B.C.’s rush to fast track critical minerals projects will impact the environment and Indigenous Rights

‘Metals are the new oil’: B.C. fast-tracks critical minerals projects to counter tariffs: thenarwhal.ca/bc-critical-...

Nobody likes B.C.’s new mining claims policy | The Narwhal A new policy is rules are here for staking B.C. mining claims — a changes required following failures to consult First Nations — but critics say it falls short on multiple counts

B.C. has a new policy for staking mining claims. Why doesn’t anyone like it?: thenarwhal.ca/bc-mineral-c...

Lidia Thorpe, the UN Declaration and the mob out there • Tim Rowse Despite her weakness for hyperbole, the high-profile senator has proposed a simple way of bringing greater Indigenous scrutiny to parliament

inside.org.au/lidia-thorpe...

This country engagement, requested by the Saami Council and supported by the Sámi Parliament in Norway, provided an opportunity to provide technical advice on protecting the rights of the Sámi People in the green energy transition, with a focus on FPIC.

Gratitude to the Government of Norway, the Saami Council, the Sámi Parliament in Norway, the Norwegian NHRI, and all other concerned parties we met with throughout the mission. Your openness, engagement, and contributions were invaluable.

📢 The EMRIP Techincal Advisory Note on our country engagement with Norway is now published! www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/issues/indigenouspeoples/emrip/countryengagement/EMRIP-Norway-country-engagement-Advisory-note-19-03-2025.pdf

From consultation to consent: the integration of UNDRIP in Canadian law A recent decision on a nuclear disposal facility considers how the UNDRIP principles should be interpreted in the context of Canadian laws.

"In Kebaowek First Nation v. Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, 2025 FC 319, the Federal Court of Canada found that the adoption...UNDRIP...into Canadian law ...via...UNDA...is a contextual factor that requires an enhanced duty to consult in the circumstances."

www.osler.com/en/insights/...

The Race for the Arctic Is Undermining Indigenous Rights The Arctic region is becoming a theater for competition between states over its resources and geopolitical advantages. This is having a deeply harmful impact on the indigenous peoples of the Arctic, w...

jacobin.com/2025/03/ukra...

Musqueam First Nation, Ottawa sign self-government agreement | CBC News The federal Crown-Indigenous relations minister and the chief of the Musqueam Indian Band have initialled an agreement they say brings the band one step closer to self-governance.

"...the first self-government agreement that implements aspects of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples."

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Indonesian court blocks palm oil expansion, but leaves Indigenous land rights in limbo JAKARTA — The Indonesian Supreme Court has upheld a government decision to curb the expansion of a multibillion-dollar oil palm plantation project in the country’s easternmost region of Papua. In its ...

news.mongabay.com/2025/03/indo...

National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak Demands Action on U.S. Tariffs Impacting First Nations - Assembly of First Nations (March 6, 2025 – Unceded Algonquin Territory, Ottawa) – National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak released the following statement today demanding action on U.S. Tariffs impacting First Nations: “As Nati...

afn.ca/all-news/pre...

New Zealand reckons with its own divisive culture war New Zealand is deeply divided over the Treaty Principles Bill, which seeks to reinterpret the de facto constitution. Now the prime minister must stop it.

www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

Opinion: If Trump really is an existential threat to Canada, Indigenous peoples need to be involved in the response Not only is that the case in constitutional and foundational terms, it is also to Canada’s benefit to affirm treaty relationships as a first point of defence

www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...

Opinion: Ottawa’s Haida Gwaii deal is a beacon for the rest of Canada The Haida Nation now officially has sovereignty over a long-contested archipelago off the coast of B.C. But not all Canadian politicians are willing to show such admirable respect and cooperation

www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...

www.amnesty.org/en/documents...

In reviewing the five cases together, one can see some themes emerging. First, the Court has added new caselaw to the growing body of jurisprudence and commenta...
www.mondaq.com/canada/indig...

National Iwi Chairs Forum Raises Urgent Concerns To United Nations Over Legislative Threats To Indigenous & Human Rights The Forum has raised concerns regarding the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill and the Regulatory Standards Bill, which, if enacted, will radically undermine existing human rights protections, ...

www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO25...

Canada recognizes Aboriginal title over Haida Gwaii in historic agreement | CBC News The Big Tide Haida Title Lands Agreement affirms that the Haida have Aboriginal title over all of the islands' lands, beds of freshwater bodies, and foreshores to the low-tide mark.

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

‘OUR GAME’: Haudenosaunee push for IOC special approval to compete in lacrosse at 2028 Olympics With lacrosse featured in the 2028 LA Olympics, the sport’s creators — the Haudenosaunee Confederacy — are still fighting to participate.

dailyorange.com/2025/02/haud...

With the U.S.-Canada border under scrutiny, Indigenous groups on both sides reaffirm their rights National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak of the Assembly of First Nations stressed the importance of protecting border mobility rights

www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

Lidia Thorpe's human rights bill shot down by both major parties Legislation designed to help bring Australian laws in line with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples has been defeated.Introduced by Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe, the...

nit.com.au/14-02-2025/1...

"The Trump Administration's Attacks on International Law and Institutions": Public Statement of American Human Rights Experts, Current and Former Members of UN Bodies High-level US human rights experts express concern about the Trump administration's turn away from of international law and institutions.

"The Trump Administration's Attacks on International Law and Institutions": Public Statement of American Human Rights Experts, Current and Former Members of UN Bodies www.justsecurity.org/107687/state...

'We will not yield' | NCAI President Rallies Native Leaders to Protect Sovereignty WASHINGTON – With hundreds of tribal leaders gathered in Washington, D.C., this week, the National Congress of American Indians delivered its annual State of Indian Nations address on Monday. Just th...

nativenewsonline.net/currents/we-...

U.S. lithium mine approval violated Indigenous rights, report finds The U.S. government approved the Thacker Pass lithium mine in Nevada without full tribal consultation, violating international human rights law, according to a report from Human Rights Watch and the A...

www.ehn.org/u-s-lithium-...

Pope Francis: Defending Indigenous Rights ‘a Matter of Justice’ The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is hosting the meeting in order to strengthen IFAD’s partnership with Indigenous peoples and its initiatives in their communities.

Pope Francis: Defending Indigenous Rights ‘a Matter of Justice’| National Catholic Register www.ncregister.com/cna/pope-fra...

Today, Minister of Foreign Affairs, launched Canada’s first Standing Table on Human Rights to provide independent insight and expert advice on human rights considerations across all aspects of Canada’s foreign policy. Honoured to be part of this distinguished group. www.canada.ca/en/global-af...

Today Amnesty together with @saamicouncil.bsky.social published a report on #IndigenousPeoplesRights in the #EnergyTransition. We call for better #HumanRights Protection. 📣 amnesty.no/sites/defaul...