Friday, May 24

4:30pm | Registration Opens

5:15pm | Day One Opening Remarks

5:30pm | Navigating Leadership | Michelle Casavant
With an emphasis on collaboration, communication and relationship-building, we explore resilience-building techniques tailored to challenges faced by Indigenous leaders. Through mindfulness activities, stress management strategies and group discussions, participants develop a resilient mindset essential for navigating complex leadership roles.

6:30pm | Welcome Reception

Saturday, May 25

8:00am | Breakfast

8:50am | Day Two Opening Remarks

9:00am | Traditional Welcome & Forest Walk
This tour begins with a traditional welcome song inside the Cultural Centre followed by a fifteen-minute film. After, guests visit the Interpretive Forest Trail and the Salish Stroll, where a knowledgeable Cultural Ambassador provides insight into the local flora and fauna in our shared territory. Guests learn how the Nations used them for food, in our teas as preventative medicine and how we transformed some into useful tools. This tour provides a glimpse of how our ancestors live and showcases our intimate connection with our land.

10:00am | Health Break

2:00pm | Indigenous Law & Language | Dr. Ronald Ignace
Kúkip7 Ronald Ignace shares his extensive knowledge and experience of Indigenous Law. This includes his work in his role as Commissioner of Indigenous Languages.

Learn about the ways Commissioner Ignace supports and works with Indigenous peoples through their respective governments, other governing bodies, communities and organizations. Moreover, Commissioner Ignace speaks on working with federal, provincial and territorial governments to support the self-determined work of Indigenous peoples in reclaiming, revitalizing, maintaining and strengthening First Nations, Inuit and Métis languages.

11:15am | Indigenous Cultural Competency in the Law | Leah George-Wilson
This round table is chaired by Tsleil-Waututh Nation lawyer Leah George-Wilson. As the profession requires all lawyers to take Indigenous Cultural Competency training, what do we as Indigenous lawyers think about this? What is our lived experience with this training? How has this training impacted us and those around us? This discussion offers a safe space to share your experiences and thoughts on this emerging area in our profession.

12:15pm | Lunch

1:00pm | As I Am: Indigenous Motivation | Madelaine McCallum
Madelaine developed this workshop from a feeling she had not been enough her entire life. Over time she found other people also felt they don’t fit anywhere.

Madelaine took the time to process and think about what helps her get her through the day and makes her want to live another day – the things that saved her life. One major area is gratitude. The feeling of gratitude and the energy that comes from it and the physical form it takes within us.

During this session, Madelaine speaks with realness and vulnerability as she helps you to discover the importance of finding self-worth and acceptance.

3:00pm | Free Time

6:00pm | Retreat Reception & Dinner
Keynote Presentation: The Hon. Chief Justice Leonard Marchand Jr.
A Sylix member of the Okanagan Indian Band, Chief Justice Marchand speaks about his most recent career achievement as the first Indigenous Chief Justice of British Columbia and inspires us with his words of encouragement.

Sunday, May 26

8:30am | Morning Walk and Light Stretching | Randy Robinson
Randy Robinson leads a low impact walk and stretch on Sunday that will brighten your morning. This walk is a great way to start the day and for all fitness levels! This walk includes breaks for light stretching around the beautiful Squamish. Breath in the beautiful mountain air and check out the majestic views.

10:00am | Brunch

A 100 Questions for A Hundred Lawyers | Michelle Casavant & Christina J. Cook
Throughout the weekend, there will be a question box where participants are welcome to jot down their questions they would like to pose to the group. These can be practice advice, questions regarding ethical issues or substantive law questions. On Sunday morning over a delicious brunch, all participants are invited to an open discussion about these questions and other topics that arise through the dialogue. What better way to discuss a topic than by tapping into the brain trust of 100 Indigenous lawyers!

Speakers