First Nations

Bringing understanding and respect of the indigenous perspective to legal matters.

Our office offers a wide range of legal services to indigenous communities and their members, and to individuals, companies and lenders conducting business with indigenous communities or on reserve lands. Our practice group includes lawyers who have experience in the following areas:

• Land Development
• Negotiating Leases
• Commercial Financing and Leases
• Residential Property Transactions
• Commercial Property Transactions
• Commercial Agreements and Transactions
• Estate Planning
• Taxation Issues
• Litigation

As communities grow, indigenous communities have continued to develop partnerships and ways of doing business with developers and others. History and culture influence the way business is conducted within the indigenous communities. We know that to properly represent clients, there must be an understanding and respect of the indigenous perspective and we offer our services within that framework.

The indigenous communities approach development and leasing on their lands in different ways. Some lands are governed under the Indian Act and some are governed under their own Constitution or Land Code. Lands are either community lands held by the First Nation which can be designated for the purpose of leasing or Locatee lands which are reserve lands allocated to a particular First Nations member. This framework has created a need for experienced legal services. We have lawyers who have represented communities, individuals, companies and lenders doing business on First Nations lands.

We provide services to First Nations relating to negotiation with DISC, designation votes, business structures, contracts and business proposals, lease reviews, litigation and general legal advice.

Whether a client needs assistance preparing a lease, registering security or working through the leasing process with DISC, our lawyers have the experience and the understanding of aboriginal law issues necessary to guide our clients through this unique and complex area of law.

We have specific experience assisting purchasers, sellers, developers and lenders with the acquisition, financing, sale, development and leasing of commercial and residential properties on the following First Nations Lands:

• Westbank First Nation
• Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc – Kamloops & Area
• Okanagan Indian Band
• Osoyoos Indian Band
• Adams Lake Indian Band
• Shuswap Indian Band
• Penticton Indian Band
• Williams Lake Indian Band

We can assist you. Please do not hesitate to contact one of our First Nations lawyers for more information.

Practice Members