More about me

  • Negotiating and advising on the First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act and regulations for an on-reserve potash mine and on-reserve hydroelectric dam
  • Negotiating and advising on self-government arrangements under Canada’s Inherent Right Policy
  • Advising on federal and provincial environmental assessments and other regulatory processes involving Indigenous issues
  • Experience in consultation and accommodation processes for major projects in energy, mining, transportation and forestry industries and negotiating Impact Benefit Agreements
  • Advising on the First Nations Land Management Act and the Indian Act
  • Negotiating Treaty land entitlement agreements and advising on Specific Claims
  • Tsilhqot’in Nation v. British Columbia, 2014 SCC 44, co-counsel for an intervener before the Supreme Court of Canada in this significant Aboriginal title and constitutional law case

Sonia has extensive experience in Aboriginal law on various matters including Aboriginal and Treaty rights, governance issues, land use planning, on-reserve economic development, regulatory and other constitutional issues.

Sonia enjoys creative problem solving through negotiated solutions that can be supported with litigation strategy. Sonia served in a senior capacity with the Government of Saskatchewan for nearly a decade and has a deep understanding of provincial and federal processes. This experience in the public sector is instrumental in providing clients with sound strategic and legal advice when dealing with the Crown. In addition to her practice, Sonia enjoys teaching constitutional legal issues at the University of Regina as a sessional lecturer.

  • Executive Member, Aboriginal Law South Section, Canadian Bar Association (Saskatchewan, 2008-2015; 2018-present)
  • Board of Directors, Dress for Success (Regina, 2014-2018)
  • Mentor, Mother Teresa Middle School

  • Presenter, “First Nations’ Jurisdiction over Cannabis”, Assembly of First Nations National First Nations (AFN) Cannabis Summit (Vancouver, September 2019)
  • Faculty Member, “Osgoode Certificate in Fundamentals of Indigenous Peoples and Canadian Law,” Osgoode Professional Development (2018; 2019)
  • Instructor, “Canadian Politics and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” Department of Politics and International Studies (Regina, 2016-2019)
  • Presenter, “Application of the First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act in Saskatchewan,” Law Society of Saskatchewan (Saskatchewan, 2017)
  • Presenter, “Doing Business with the First Nations,” Law Society of Saskatchewan (Saskatchewan, May 2016)
  • Lecturer, “The Duty to Consult and Accommodate” (Saskatchewan, 2015; 2016; 2017)

  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada – Aboriginal Law/Indigenous Practice (2025)
  • Named a Leading Practitioner, Aboriginal Law, Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (2023-present)
  • Premier’s Award for Excellence, Public Service (Saskatchewan, 2015)
  • CPLED Student Award, Law Society of Saskatchewan (Saskatchewan, 2005-2006)
  • Orest and Marie Bendas Prize, Jurisprudence (Saskatchewan, 2004-2005)