Tom Isaac and Jeremy Barretto recently discussed their new book “The Law of Indigenous Ownership and Projects,” with Jeffrey Jones of The Globe and Mail for the article “Indigenous Investment in Resource Projects Ups Demand for Specialized Know-How.”
Writes Jeffrey: “Relationships are evolving quickly between Indigenous communities and Canadian businesses seeking to develop energy and natural-resource projects on their territories – and that’s boosting demand for specialized legal know-how.”
JP Gladu, founder of Mokwateh and a member of the Sand Point First Nation in Ontario, who wrote the forward to the book, agrees: “Certainly it’s a sea-change shift in the way that Canada is approaching its relationship with Indigenous communities around infrastructure projects, as an example. We see it in the trends in equity investments right across the country and how Canada is lining up. But at the beginning of anything there’s going to be a lot of questions, there’s going to be some hesitancy. People are looking for clarity.”
The newly released book by Tom and Jeremy seeks to provide this clarity. Writes Jeffrey: “Titled ‘The Law of Indigenous Ownership & Projects,’ it is a practical guide to Aboriginal law, land considerations, agreements between industry and Indigenous communities, along with tax and regulatory factors. The authors are partners with Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP law firm with years of experience in Indigenous legal and regulatory cases.”
Says Jeremy: “The book will hopefully be helpful to create more opportunity, where otherwise there may be conflict, to maximize opportunities and prosperity for both Indigenous communities and Canadian society at large.”
Tom notes that the book has been published at a time when the relationship between Indigenous communities and industry is maturing in Canada amid calls for economic reconciliation: “It’s reached a state where we now need to start codifying and gathering what we’ve learned, and that in and of itself, I think, is a positive statement.”
Read the full story from The Globe and Mail here. (Subscription required.)
Learn more about “The Law of Indigenous Ownership & Projects” here.