In decision-making processes about the land rights of Indigenous peoples, States must “give due recognition to indigenous peoples’ laws, traditions, customs and land tenure systems” (UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Article 27).

Specific claims processes must recognize the laws of Indigenous Nations who bring forward claims. Otherwise, the process will remain biased against Indigenous peoples: Canadian law will remain the ultimate authority. A truly equal Nation-to-Nation approach cannot exist unless Indigenous laws are fully recognized and integrated into specific claims.

In this video, lawyer Ardith Walpetko We’dalx Walkem (Nlaka’pamux Nation) explains how Indigenous laws are an important part of fixing the “broken” specific claims process. “Justice is shared,” she says. “Justice is never imposed.”