Standoff: Why Reconciliation Fails Indigenous People and How to Fix It

Indigenous legal scholar and lawyer Dr. Bruce McIvor shares a collection of searing essays on the colonial underpinnings of ongoing structural barriers to Canada’s attempts at reconciliation with First Nations peoples. The essays in Standoff reflect McIvor’s depth of experience as an advocate for movements that assert Indigenous rights in Canadian courts. McIvor posits that recognition and reconciliation may be easy to talk about, but reality and practice are very different. Canada’s legal system continues to fail Indigenous peoples, despite the country’s espoused values of fairness, justice, and the rule of law.

The lessons offered in this book are important for advocates of Indigenous sovereignty in the U.S. and other settler colonial societies. Through the lens of a non-Indigenous reader, McIvor’s narrative is an eye-opening and honest look at what’s keeping progress on reconciliation at bay. Inequities in power stem from centuries of colonization and disenfranchisement, and these issues have not been adequately addressed. Colonial power structures are upheld even by well-intentioned allies. McIvor breaks down case law and offers examples in plain language. However, legal details may still result in a learning curve for those who are not already familiar with intricacies of Canadian law.