Speakers

Learn more about the speakers and presenters at the
ALF Retreat 2025. 

Hugh Braker, KC, Political Executive, First Nations Summit 

After graduating from UBC Law School in 1983, Hugh practiced law in B.C. for 25+ years, specializing in Indigenous rights litigation. In 2022, Hugh was elected to serve a three-year term as a member of the Political Executive of the First Nations Summit. He concurrently serves on the BC First Nations Leadership Council.

Hugh is a citizen of the Tseshaht First Nation, which is located in Port Alberni on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Cynthia Callison, Founding Partner, Callison & Hanna

Cynthia has reputation as a leading negotiator in innovative agreements between Indigenous peoples, governments, and resource developers. She currently serves on several boards which provide leadership for revitalizing Indigenous well-being. Cynthia is a member of the Tahltan Nation whose territory is the Stikine River Watershed in northwestern BC.

Debra Febril, Nisga'a Lisims Government

Debra completed her B.A. and J.D. of Law at the Thompson Rivers University. After graduating from law school in 2014, she articled with Nisga'a Lisims Government where she continued to work for her Nation in various roles for six years. As a lawyer, she continued to focus in the areas of criminal, family, administrative and Indigenous laws. She has represented clients in countless mediations, negotiations, provincial court hearings and has also appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada.

As a Nisga’a woman who belongs to Wilps Bayt Neekhl, Debra has been trained since birth to serve her community with humility and respect.

Debra Hanuse, Senior Policy Analyst, First Nations Summit

Debra is a member of the 'Namgis First Nation. After practising Aboriginal and corporate and commercial law for more than 20 years, Debra retired from the practice of law in 2010.

She has also served as the elected Chief the 'Namgis First Nation, the Chief Treaty Negotiator for the Tsawwassen First Nation, a Commissioner at the BC Treaty Commission, the Acting Director of Law and Legislation at the Assembly of First Nations and as Acting Executive Director at the BC Assembly of First Nations.

Leah Mack, Partner, Mack Law Corp

Since being called to the bar in 2007, Leah has dedicated her career to working almost exclusively with Indigenous clients. She is deeply committed to listening, learning, and providing practical, supportive legal guidance tailored to the unique needs of each person and Nation. Her approach is rooted in collaboration, and she frequently travels to meet clients in their home communities—ensuring her legal practice reflects and respects each Nation’s distinct customs, laws, and traditions.

Born and raised in Victoria, Leah is a proud member of the Toquaht Nation on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Her journey has taken her across Canada, having lived in the Yukon, Nova Scotia, and Ontario, before returning to Victoria.

Melanie Mortensen, Legislative Counsel, BC Public Service

Melanie is a counsel for Members’ Drafting with the BC Office of Legislative Counsel. She is past Chair of the CBA Public Sector Lawyers Section and has been the interim Director on the Board of the Métis Nation of Greater Victoria. Before her return home to B.C. in 2015, Melanie was a Parliamentary Counsel in the House of Commons and the Senate. She is Métis lawyer and studied Law at McGill.

Tamara Napoleon, Principal Lawyer, Miller Titerle + Company

Tamara is a member of Saulteau First Nations and among a handful of Indigenous female solicitors in Canada. At MT+Co., she co-leads the Indigenous Law Group. Tamara works for clients that demand greater equity, legacy, and equality in their business and governance affairs.

She hails from a long lineage of fierce, driven Cree women who, while driving her limits, also drive her to make change happen in all aspects of her life.

Val Napoleon, Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Victoria

Val has taught and published on aboriginal legal issues, Indigenous law and legal theories, Indigenous feminisms, governance, critical restorative justice, oral traditions and Indigenous legal research methodologies.

She is the co-founder of JD/JID dual law degree program in Indigenous legal orders and Canadian common law, and the founding director of the Indigenous Law Research Unit.

Val is from northeast British Columbia a member of Saulteau First Nation. She is also an adopted member of the Gitanyow House of Luuxhon, Ganada Clan.

Douglas White III, Kwul'a'sul'tun, Special Counsel to the Premier on Indigenous Reconciliation

Doug is a practising lawyer and negotiator for First Nations across the country. He is also the Chair of the BC First Nations Justice Council, Co-Chair of B.C.’s Provincial Advisory Committee for Indigenous and Specialized Courts and Related Initiatives, Director of the federal Nanaimo Port Authority and BC Housing Commissioner.

He is a member, former Chief and former Councillor of the Snuneymuxw First Nation in Nanaimo. From 2010 to 2013, he was a member of the First Nations Summit Task Group and the BC First Nations Leadership Council working on common issues with BC First Nations and advocated on their behalf.

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