Event Details

A Framework for Reconciliation? Bill C-92 at the Supreme Court (Panel Discussion)

The Supreme Court of Canada recently published its long-awaited decision in the C-92 Reference, ruling that the federal government has jurisdiction to affirm Indigenous self-government rights vis-a-vis child and family services. This online panel event - which is co-sponsored by the Centre for Constitutional Studies and the Wahkohtowin Law and Governance Lodge - brings together a group of legal and constitutional experts to discuss the Court's ruling, focusing (among other things) on how it relates to the Court's prior jurisprudence on sections 91(24) and 35, and on what it means for the future of Indigenous legal orders and the inherent right of Indigenous peoples to govern themselves, especially with respect to provision of child and family services.

Speakers

Naiomi Metallic

Associate Professor, Schulich School of Law (Dalhousie)

Professor Naiomi Metallic is from the Listuguj Mi’gmaq First Nation located on the Gaspé Coast of Quebec, known as the Gespegewagi district of Mi’kma’ki. After nearly 10 years of legal practice in Aboriginal law, Professor Metallic made the move to academia to continue her work for First Nations in a different way — through teaching, writing, and speaking about the issues facing Indigenous peoples in Canada and how the law can be a tool for reconciliation and improving the lives of Indigenous peoples. To address this challenge, Professor Metallic's work traverses a number of legal fields, including constitutional law, human rights law, and Indigenous law defined broadly to include both the laws of Indigenous peoples based in inherent jurisdiction or deriving from jurisdiction delegated or recognized under Canadian laws.

Joshua Nichols

Assistant Professor, McGill Faculty of Law

Joshua Nichols is Metis from Treaty 8 Territory in British Columbia, and teaches Aboriginal law, constitutional history, and legal theory at McGill University's Faculty of Law. His research centers on the legacy of British Imperialism and the conflictual constitutional relationship between Canada and Indigenous peoples. In particular, he is interested in how Indigenous constitutional practices have responded to the development of the centralized administrative state since the mid-19th century. He is also the author of two monographs: "A Reconciliation Without Recollection?" and "The End(s) of Community."

Katherine Hensel

Lawyer, Fogler Rubinoff

Katherine Hensel is a citizen of the Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation. As a lawyer, Katherine has built a diverse practice providing advice and acting in disputes concerning the assertion of inherent jurisdiction and other Indigenous and treaty rights, the duty to consult, commercial matters, public inquiries (including as Assistant Commission Counsel to Ontario’s Ipperwash Inquiry, and counsel to a number of parties at Canada’s Missing and Murdered Women’s Inquiry), coroners’ inquests, employment law and workplace investigations, child welfare matters, and select criminal cases. Katherine is also the recipient of a number of awards for her innovative and passionate advocacy for human rights and the advancement of social justice, including the Minaake Award for Human Rights and Advocacy from the Native Women’s Resource Centre and the Arleen Goss Young Advocates Award from the Advocates Society.

Earl Stevenson

Lawyer, Peguis Child & Family Services

Earl Stevenson grew up on the Peguis Reserve and is from the Turtle clan. His legal experience includes the representation of two Treaty 1 First Nations in the negotiation of the Comprehensive Settlement Agreement concerning the Kapyong Barracks, and involvement in the final Federal Court of Appeal decision for the Kapyong Barracks case which the federal government elected not to appeal. In his current role as legal counsel for Peguis Child and Family Services, Earl supports the Peguis Nation with meeting the national standards outlined in An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit, and Metis children, youth and families (Bill C-92).

Event Date(s):

March 15, 2024, 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm

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Centre for Constitutional Studies
448D Law Centre
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB T6G 2H5