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Jennifer Sokal elected to Manitoba Bar Association Council
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Indigenous

The members of the MLT Aikins Indigenous practice area provide a high level of focused knowledge and work collaboratively with the firm’s other practice areas to bring our clients the benefits of a full-service business law firm with a significant understanding of the unique issues facing Indigenous communities.

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Intergovernmental Relations and Treaty and Aboriginal Rights

For decades, MLT Aikins has represented clients in Treaty and Aboriginal rights negotiations and litigation; comprehensive and specific claims; and a wide variety of legislative, regulatory and other negotiations with the federal, provincial and municipal governments. Our lawyers have played a leading role in landmark land claims settlements, self-government negotiations, constitutional accords and the development of inter-governmental relations protocols, and have represented Indigenous governments in Treaty and Aboriginal matters in the Courts and before federal and provincial regulatory tribunals.

We represent many Indigenous communities in matters arising from the duty to consult and accommodate, and we have particular depth in matters such as water and water rights, forestry, mining and oil and gas development, pipelines, land use policies and land development, hunting and fishing, roads and access to reserves. We have negotiated a wide variety of impact benefit and related business and consultation arrangements between Indigenous communities and the resource sector.

Business Law for Indigenous Groups

Our lawyers have been at the forefront of Indigenous economic development initiatives, successfully structuring projects and partnerships across a broad range of industries, including hospitality, gaming, food processing, agribusiness, property development and leasing, construction, transportation and natural resources. We primarily represent Indigenous governments and Indigenous-owned entities, but also act for lenders and others doing business with Indigenous groups.

Indigenous Governance and General Counsel

We provide advice on all aspects of management and governance, and act as general counsel to Indigenous governments. We have drafted constitutions and bylaws, negotiated agreements with other levels of government on a broad range of funding and program arrangements, and drafted and advised on membership, election, taxation, trespass, land use, human resources, substance abuse and finance and administration bylaws and policies. Our litigation group has represented many Indigenous governments in employment, commercial, taxation, insurance and other general litigation, as well as disputes relating to elections, membership, reserve land and similar issues.

Trusts and Investments

Drafting trust agreements that meet a community’s needs requires knowledge of trust law, tax law and Aboriginal law, as well as an understanding of Indigenous communities. Our collaborative approach brings together the skills of experienced lawyers in all relevant practice areas to provide high quality, cost-effective advice on structuring trusts and drafting trust agreements and investment policies; advising trustees; drafting bylaws relating to major settlements and trust account administration; and advising on the taxation of trusts and trust income.

  • Counsel to various First Nations on the development and administration of property tax and financial administration legislation.
  • Counsel to several Indigenous communities on the establishment and structuring of limited partnerships, corporations and trusts for both on- and off-reserve economic development, including the negotiation and structuring of partnerships and joint ventures with industry partners.
  • Counsel to Ontario and Alberta First Nation-owned entities on the structuring and acquisition of a gaming and hospitality business.
  • Counsel on precedent-setting Métis Aboriginal rights litigation.
  • Prepared and negotiated a broad range of specific claims.
  • Counsel to several Aboriginal communities on specific claims, expropriation and economic development issues.
  • Counsel to a First Nation on the creation of a new service rig company, one of the first to be wholly-owned and operated by one First Nation, resulting from a collaboration between a major oilsands producer and the First Nation.
  • Counsel to an Alberta Métis Settlement Council on the right of the Council to govern Métis Settlement lands.
  • Counsel to a number of First Nations on water and waste water infrastructure including water supply agreements, licensing and regulatory issues, and participation in regional water systems.
  • Counsel to the Chiefs’ Water Committee of the Assembly of Treaty Chiefs (Alberta) on the first federal legislation for First Nation drinking water.
  • Successfully negotiated a number of impact benefit agreements resulting in substantial community benefits and economic development opportunities for Aboriginal communities in the resource sector.
Key Contact

Michael Clark

Partner

P: (403) 693-4303

F: (403) 508-4349

Office:Calgary

Key Contact

Josh Morrison

Partner

P: (306) 347-8481

F: (306) 352-5250

Office:Regina

Len Andrychuk, K.C.

Counsel

P: (306) 347-8440

F: (306) 352-5250

Office:Regina

Jeremy Barber

Associate

P: (306) 347-8622

F: (306) 352-5250

Office:Regina

Anna Beatch

Associate

P: (306) 956-6952

F: (306) 975-7145

Office:Saskatoon

Sarah Bidniak

Associate

P: (780) 969-3522

F: (780) 969-3549

Office:Edmonton

J. Robert Black, K.C.

Partner

P: (780) 969-3507

F: (780) 969-3549

Office:Edmonton

Jessica Buhler

Partner

P: (306) 956-2173

F: (306) 975-7145

Office:Saskatoon

Conor Chell

Counsel

P: (403) 693-2627

F: (403) 508-4349

Office:Calgary

Meaghan Conroy

Partner

P: (780) 969-3515

F: (780) 969-3549

Office:Edmonton

Amelia Crowshoe

Associate

P: (403) 693-5425

F: (403) 508-4349

Office:Calgary

Riva Farrell Racette

Associate

P: (306) 347-8485

F: (306) 352-5250

Office:Regina

Billie Fortier

Partner

P: (403) 693-4333

F: (403) 508-4349

Office:Calgary

Amy Gibson

Partner

P: (306) 956-6994

F: (306) 975-7145

Office:Saskatoon

Jodi Hancheroff

Associate

P: (306) 956-2185

F: (306) 975-7145

Office:Saskatoon

Danielle Hopkins-Carter

Associate

P: (306) 956-2191

F: (306) 975-7145

Office:Saskatoon

Rangi Jeerakathil

Partner

P: (306) 975-7107

F: (306) 975-7145

Office:Saskatoon

Erica Klassen

Associate

P: (306) 956-2171

F: (306) 975-7145

Office:Saskatoon

Margaret Kwan

Paralegal

P: (604) 924-8701

F: (604) 682-7131

Office:Vancouver

Drew Lafond

Partner

P: (306) 956-6980

F: (306) 975-7145

Office:Saskatoon

Amyn F. Lalji

Partner

P: (604) 608-4551

F: (604) 682-7131

Office:Vancouver

Michael Marschal

Associate

P: (306) 347-8632

F: (306) 352-5250

Office:Regina

Jason J. McNiven

Associate

P: (604) 608-5788

F: (604) 682-7131

Office:Vancouver

Dani Nichols

Associate

P: (306) 956-6989

F: (306) 352-5250

Office:Saskatoon

Chris Nyberg

Partner

P: (403) 693-2636

F: (403) 508-4349

Office:Calgary

Tom Provost

Partner

P: (204) 957-4668

F: (204) 957-0840

Office:Winnipeg

David Rolf, K.C.

Counsel

P: (780) 969-5085

F: (780) 969-3549

Office:Edmonton

Laura Schaan

Associate

P: (306) 956-6953

F: (306) 975-7145

Office:Saskatoon

Callie Schwartz

Associate

P: (306) 347-8695

F: (306) 352-5250

Office:Regina

Travis W. Smith

Associate

P: (604) 608-5789

F: (604) 682-7131

Office:Vancouver

Grant Stefanson, K.C.

Partner

P: (204) 957-4614

F: (204) 957-0840

Office:Winnipeg

Catrina Thompson

Associate

P: (604) 608-5773

F: (604) 682-7131

Office:Vancouver

Sydney Thomson

Associate

P: (403) 693-4332

F: (403) 508-4349

Office:Calgary

Todd Thomson

Partner

P: (204) 957-4653

F: (204) 957-0840

Office:Winnipeg

Colleen Verville, K.C.

Partner

P: (780) 969-3505

F: (780) 969-3549

Office:Edmonton

Jennifer Williams

Counsel

P: (604) 608-5793

F: (604) 682-7131

Office:Vancouver

Benjamin Young

Associate

P: (780) 969-5087

F: (780) 969-3549

Office:Edmonton

Sonia Eggerman

Partner

P: (306) 347-8412

F: (306) 352-5250

Office:Regina

Martin Minuk

Counsel

P: (204) 955-8504 (24 hours)

F: (204) 957-0840

Office:Winnipeg

Contact the Indigenous Team

Please use this form to contact the Indigenous Team directly with any questions or concerns you may have.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Before we can act for you, we must conduct a conflicts check. Please do not send us any confidential information. We do not guarantee the confidentiality of any communications unless and until we confirm our agreement to be engaged. Unsolicited information may not be treated as confidential and will not be protected by solicitor-client privilege. I consent to receive email correspondence from MLT Aikins related to my inquiry. I acknowledge that I can opt-out or update my preferences at any time.

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“MLT Aikins,” the MLT Aikins Designs and “Western Canada’s Law Firm” are trademarks of MLT Aikins LLP. Copyright © 2023 MLT Aikins LLP. All rights reserved.

Our offices are located on the territories of Indigenous peoples, including the First Nations of Treaties 1, 4, 6 and 7, the Coast Salish peoples as well as other non-Treaty First Nations and Métis.
We are committed to reconciliation.

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