Talk:Indigenous Families

Hi JP and Nate

I have made some substantive changes here you will want to check.

1. In the introduction, I just refer to the Indian Act, rather than talking about the federal government's exclusive jurisdiction over Indians and land reserved for Indians . . . Where the text recommends that readers get the "advice of a family law lawyer, I added "who has expertise in Aboriginal law." (If a reader needed help with on- and off-reserve issues and was phoning Lawyer Referral, that could be helpful. . .) See what you think.

2. In the information about paying child support, I changed the first couple of sentences to make it more simple. (I also put in some para breaks.)

3. Language: I use Aboriginal (capitalized) in the standard way (to include "Indians," Inuit and Metis) - but use First Nations rather than "Indians." I refer to heritage rather than "roots." I do not use "native."

4. In Resources and links I removed Native Community Law Offices (gone, alas, alas, and grievously missed) and put in the current LSS services. I took out the Native Friendship Centre suggestion because Clicklaw seems to offer only one I can see - in Quesnel.

You probably seeing this word used in terms like substantive law, substantive issues, or substantive orders, and it is used to identify aspects of these things (be they laws, legal issues, or court orders) that deal with the legal rights and duties of the parties involved in a case. Substantive law defines and regulates the rights and obligations of individuals, as opposed to procedural law, which outlines the methods and means by which substantive law is made and administered. In family law, substantive issues often involve matters such as guardianship and parenting arrangements relating to children, support, and the division of property. A substantive order from a judge will be a decision about a substantive issue, versus a procedural order which will be about how steps in the litigation should.

With respect to courts, (1) the authority of the court to hear an action and make orders, (2) the limits of the authority of a particular judicial official, (3) the geographic location of a court, or (4) the territorial limits of a court's authority. With respect to governments, (5) the authority of a government to make legislation as determined by the constitution, or (6) the limits of authority of a particular government agency. See “constitution."

Real property; a parcel of real property and the buildings upon it. See also "chattel," "ownership" and "possession."

A person licensed to practice law in a particular jurisdiction by that jurisdiction's law society. See "barrister and solicitor."

Money paid by one parent or guardian to another parent or guardian as a contribution toward the cost of a child's living and other expenses.

In contract law, the expression, either orally or in writing, of a willingness to be bound by a proposed agreement, contract, or settlement. See "offer to settle."