Submitted by Jennifer Spencer and Ming Song, Co-Chairs
Summary of Activities
Number of Meetings Held: 7
Meeting Summaries: 5
June 22, 2010
Guest Speakers: Matthew Kirchner and James Mackenzie
Topic: “Aboriginal commercial Fishing Rights: From Law to Reality”
April 21, 2010
Guest Speaker: Thea Schmidt
Topic: “Tricks and Tips on Researching Aboriginal Law”
March 11, 2010
Guest Speaker: Georgina Villeneuve and Margaret Mason
Topic: “Legal and Practical Considerations in the Administration of First Nation Trusts”
February 10, 2010
Guest Speaker: Robert Janes
Topic: “Aboriginal Law – The Year in Review”
December 10, 2009
Guest Speakers: John Rich & John Hunter, QC
Topic: “Ahousaht Indian Band and Nation v Canada (Attorney General), 2009 BCSC 1494 and the Aboriginal Right to Fish for Commercial Purposes”
November 24, 2010
Guest Speakers: Jean Yuen, Ronald Lauenstein & Max Collett
Topic: “Lessons Learned from Specific Projects: Land Management in Economic Developments on First Nations Land”
October 7, 2009
Guest Speakers: Peter Grant, Darwin Hanna, John Hunter, QC, Micha Menczer & Maria Morellato, QC
Topic: “If not the Recognition and Reconciliation Act, then what?”
Comments & Observations of the Co-Chairs
The Section remained a vibrant one in the 2009-2010 with seven meetings, attracting good attendance from both solicitors and litigators in the Aboriginal Law Bar as well as counsel acting for First Nations, the Crown, and industry.
We also provided value to members in funnelling Aboriginal-law related opportunities to comment on various task forces and projects by the National Section, by sister-sections, and by outside agencies, including the Environmental Law Clinic at the University of Victoria and other researchers.
Certain members of the Section have also been active in fundraising for the CBA Aboriginal Law Student Scholarship Trust in the last year.
We continue to have an excellent relationship with the Aboriginal Law (Vancouver Island) Section. With the cooperation of both Executives, all members of the Aboriginal Law Sections can typically access meetings at either Section through telephone or webinar technology. The uptake has generally been quite good.