Indigenous Studies
Aboriginal Law -- Search Strategies
Questions to consider when finding materials relevant to the study of legal impacts on First Nations, Metis, and Inuit (FNMI) peoples:
- Are you seeking legal documents such as acts of legislation, statutes or regulations, or cases for such laws? (Use Primary sources - Aboriginal Law)
- Are you seeking legal definitions, overviews of concepts or ideas, reviews, commentary or analysis of the law? (Use Secondary sources - Aboriginal Law)
- Are you seeking legal information relevant in a specific location? Local/ municipal, provincial, federal, international? (Include Jurisdiction in search)
Examples:
- Primary sources of law such as the Indian Act or Treaty 7 are available through government websites (e.g., Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada).
- Case law such as R. v. Friends of the Oldman River Society (1992) are available in print or online reporters (e.g., Canada Supreme Court Reports), or through searching in the Library's legal databases.
- Analysis of laws and the impact of cases are available in books and journal articles; locate using Library discovery tools (e.g., Summon, Library catalogue) or subject databases. Search Tip: use key terms or concepts rather than case citations for these searches.
Web Resources
- First Nations Information ConnectionFirst Nations Information Connection Information connects you to Government and Law about current and historical relations between the Canadian government and the First Nations people.
- Bear Paw Legal Education and Resource CenterBearPaw Legal Education & Resource Centre (BLERC) is a department of Native Counselling Service of Alberta (NCSA). Its primary mission is to develop and distribute materials designed to assist Aboriginal people in conflict with the law.
- Indigenous Law CenterThe Indigenous Law Centre at the University of Saskatchewan facilitates access to legal education for Aboriginal peoples, to promote the development of the law and the legal system in Canada in ways which better accommodate the advancement of Aboriginal peoples and communities, and to disseminate information concerning Aboriginal peoples and the law.
Aboriginal Law -- Relevant Subject Headings
Subject Headings bring together a list of library materials that relate to a particular topic. Below are examples of Subject Headings relevant to topics in Aboriginal Law.
Guides and Research Aids
- Subject guide to native law cases and annotated text of the Indian Act of Canada byCall Number: KE 7706.26 F74 1985Publication Date: 1985
- Conducting Research on Residential Schools (.PDF)A Guide to the Records of the Indian and Inuit Affairs Program and Related Resources at Library and Archives Canada