Louise Mandell, Q.C., will speak at Vancouver Island University March 20 on Litigating the Douglas Treaties.
Her talk, 7-8:30 pm, in Building 355, Room 203, Nanaimo campus, is the final presentation prior to the Vancouver Island Treaties Conference that VIU is co-hosting with Snuneymuxw First Nation May 10 and 11.
Mandell is among a group of panelists with extensive background on First Nations issues who will offer a broad perspective on the Pre-Confederation Treaties of Vancouver Island.
For over 30 years, Mandell has been one of the major thinkers and influential actors in the area of law involving Aboriginal and treaty rights. Early on in her career, she worked for the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs under the guidance of the late Grand Chief George Manuel, president of UBCIC and of the World Council of Indigenous People.
Since then, she has worked as a litigator on behalf of numerous First Nations clients and has been involved in several high-profile court cases, including many of those involving rights guaranteed under the 19th century Vancouver Island (Douglas) Treaties. Her work has served to structure the environment in which discussions on Aboriginal rights and title occur today.
The conference, to be held at the Nanaimo campus May 10 and 11, will be opened by the Honourable Steven Point, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia and will bring together people from a variety of vantage points – First Nations, academic, various levels of government, industry, the public and others.
The overarching theme of the conference is “The Pre-Confederation Treaties of Vancouver Island – Fulfilling Treaty Promises and Living in Treaty Relationships”. Within this overarching theme, four main sub-themes have been selected for special consideration. They will be explored through presentations by panels of scholars and experts, followed by discussions with conference participants.
The three sub-themes are:
• Honouring the Spirit and Intent of the Pre-Confederation Treaties of Vancouver Island – The Challenges of Treaty Interpretation
• Charting a New Course for Treaty Implementation
• The Pre-Confederation Treaties of Vancouver Island and Decision Making
Event details:
What: Litigating the Douglas Treaties
When: 7-8:30 pm, March 20, 2012
Where: Building 355, Room 203, Nanaimo Campus
Note: Registration is not required but space is limited. Followed by light snacks