Jack Woodward facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jack Woodward
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Woodward in 2018
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| Born | 3 October 1951 New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
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| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Political party | New Democratic Party |
Jack Woodward KC (born 3 October 1951) is a Canadian lawyer. He is famous for his work in Canadian Aboriginal law. This area of law deals with the rights of Indigenous peoples in Canada.
Woodward wrote a very important book called Aboriginal Law in Canada. Many people consider it the best book on the subject. In 2022, Maclean's magazine named him one of the top 50 Canadians who are making a difference.
Contents
Jack Woodward's Career and Impact
Jack Woodward has been a lawyer since 1979. He mainly works on cases about Aboriginal law and environmental law. He has helped over 100 First Nations groups.
Helping Shape Canadian Law
Woodward played a big part in creating Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. This part of Canada's main law protects the special rights of Indigenous peoples. These rights include their traditional ways of life and agreements (treaties) made with the government.
In 1980, he also ran as a political candidate for the New Democratic Party.
Teaching and Leading in Law
In 1988, Jack Woodward started his own law firm, Woodward and Company. He also taught law at the University of Victoria for 16 years. He helped create the university's first course on Aboriginal law. This helped many future lawyers learn about these important issues.
In 2011, he was named a Queen's Counsel (KC) in British Columbia. This is a special title given to experienced lawyers.
Family Connections
Jack Woodward's family has some interesting history. His great aunt, Elizabeth Woodward, was married to John Oliver. John Oliver was the leader of British Columbia (the 19th premier). His great uncle was Mark Sweeten Wade.
Important Court Cases
Jack Woodward has been involved in many important court cases. These cases have helped define and protect the rights of Indigenous peoples in Canada.
MacMillan Bloedel Ltd. v Mullin, 1985
This case was about logging on Meares Island in British Columbia. In 1984, members of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation and others stopped a logging company from cutting down trees. They said the land belonged to them, not the government.
The court was asked to stop the logging until the land ownership could be decided. The case was put on hold by agreement. The logging is still stopped today, and the case has not been restarted.
Tsilhqot’in Nation v. BC, 2014
This was a very important case for Aboriginal rights in Canada. It was the first time a court officially recognized that a First Nation had "Aboriginal title" over their traditional land. This means they legally own and control the land.
The case started in 1983 when a logging company wanted to cut trees in an area claimed by the Xeni Gwet'in band of the Tsilhqot'in Nation. The Tsilhqot'in Nation went to court to stop the logging and claim their land. After many years, the case went to the Supreme Court of Canada.
The Supreme Court decided that the Tsilhqot'in people had Aboriginal title to about 1,750 square kilometers of land. This was a huge victory for Indigenous rights.
Fort McKay First Nation v Prosper Petroleum Ltd, 2020
This case was about an oil sands project in Alberta. The Fort McKay First Nation challenged a decision that approved the project. They argued that the government did not properly consider how the project would affect their treaty rights.
The Alberta Court of Appeal agreed with the First Nation. The court said that the government must consider negotiations with First Nations about land management. The court sent the project approval back to be reviewed again. This time, the government had to consider the Fort McKay First Nation's Treaty 8 rights.
