The author and Indigenous rights lawyer visited the Faculty recently to discuss his new book Indigenous Rights in One Minute: What you Need to Know to Talk Reconciliation.
“What I’m trying to do is dispel a lot of the lies and misinformation that are out there,” he told the audience. “Misinformation is a power move. It’s part of the colonial project. If we’re going to do something useful, we have to push back against that.”
The new book provides concise, plain-language answers to nearly one hundred of the most common questions Canadians ask about Indigenous rights and reconciliation—from “Why do Indigenous people have special rights?” to “What is 'Land Back’?”
Drawing on nearly three decades of legal experience and advocacy, McIvor’s goal is to make complex legal concepts accessible and to challenge the assumptions that continue to shape public conversations about Indigenous–Crown relations.
Law school primer
In discussing his book’s intended audience, McIvor noted that while Indigenous Rights in One Minute is written for non-lawyers, law students will find it particularly useful. “It’s my version of how the laws have developed and how one case relates to another,” he said. “If you’re taking an Aboriginal law course, it’s your Coles Notes.”
Yet beyond the cases and commentary, McIvor left students with a bigger message about their future role in shaping Canada’s legal landscape: “You have an important role to play, whether you’re lawyers or not. The Canadian legal system should reflect the values that you hold dear as Canadians.”
On “Bruce’s Beefs” and the power of critique
McIvor, who is also an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia’s Allard School of Law, joked about creating a new segment for his upcoming online course called ‘Bruce’s Beefs’, “because there are a lot of things I have a beef about!” Whether the beefs helped shape the topics he tackled in his book, or writing the book solidified his frustrations is unclear. Regardless, his passion for critique and his refusal to accept the status quo makes his writing compelling and accessible.
McIvor also spoke candidly about how to maintain optimism while doing the difficult work of advancing Indigenous rights and justice. “I’m critical. I don’t think I’m cynical,” he said. “If I was, I couldn’t keep doing this work.”
He reminded students that working in Indigenous law requires passion grounded in purpose, not ego.
“You’ve gotta’ want to do this. Whether you’re Indigenous or non-Indigenous, you’ve got to have that burning fire. It’s such a privilege to represent Indigenous people. You need to take that seriously and put yourself into it.
"To avoid burnout and despair, McIvor recommends humility. “Cynicism can often come from being egotistical. If you want to be successful in the law, humility will get you a long way,” he says.
“It’s hard. Sometimes it’s a daily struggle,” he admits. “But all you need to do is to look at your clients. If my clients can get up every day and fight this fight again, then I can certainly do it.”
About Bruce McIvor
Bruce McIvor is the founder and senior partner of First Peoples Law LLP and an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia’s Allard School of Law. A member of the Manitoba Métis Federation, he holds a law degree and a Ph.D. in Aboriginal and environmental history. A Fulbright Scholar, McIvor is also the author of Standoff: Why Reconciliation Fails Indigenous People and How to Fix It (2021).