Aboriginal people live in a unique legal environment - almost every area of the law, from consumer law to family law, is affected by Aboriginal legal issues. Some of the most important features of the legal environment for Aboriginal people are Aboriginal rights, treaty rights, the government’s duties toward them, the Indian Act (the legislation that governs Indian reserves and band governments), and the effects of colonization, including residential schools. The resources below provide information on key differences in the law for Aboriginal people.

• Aboriginal Law, from the Canadian Bar Association BC Branch, provides an introductory overview.
• Aboriginal Legal Aid in BC, from the Legal Services Society, is a website for people who self-identify as Aboriginal, and the people who help them. It features up-to-date community information, links to community-based resources, and features Aboriginal publications.

Need more help?

• Aboriginal Community Legal Workers, from the Legal Services Society, provides legal information and referrals to other services.
• Indigenous Community Legal Clinic (ICLC), from the Peter A. Allard School of Law at UBC, provides legal services to the Indigenous community in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, and throughout the Lower Mainland.
• Find more help near you on Clicklaw HelpMap.

See our related common questions:

• What does the judge consider in sentencing an Aboriginal person?
• See all common questions about Aboriginal

tags

Aboriginal rights, Aboriginal law, First Nations, Indian status