BC Provincial Approving Officer Rejects US-based Subdivision Application for ȽEL¸TOS (James Island) Tsawout First Nation celebrates the rejection by the Province of an application for a subdivision on ȽEL¸TOS (James Island), an island off the east side...
Signing Ceremony Cementing Partnership Between Tsawout First Nation and Cascadia Seaweed By John Gailus, Kajia Eidse-Rempel and Erica Fritch On Friday, February 25, 2022, members of DGW Law joined Tsawout First Nation Chief and Council, Elders and members,...
Case Brief: Thomas and Saik’uz First Nation v. Rio Tinto Alcan Inc., 2022 BCSC 15 By Kajia Eidse-Rempel and Courtenay Jacklin On January 7, 2022, the BC Supreme Court released reasons for judgment in Thomas and Saik’uz First Nation v. Rio Tinto Alcan Inc.[1] The main...
Raising Revenue on Reserve: First Nations Goods and Services Tax (FNGST) By Peter Nyhuus and John Gailus The First Nations Goods and Services Tax (“FNGST”) offers a compelling revenue stream for First Nation governments seeking to raise money for their community...
Navigating Lease Creation on Reserve Land By Melodi Alopaeus For many First Nations, engagement with third-party developers presents a strategic opportunity for economic advancement in their communities. Development on a First Nation reserve is a unique undertaking...
Section 119 Agreements: Indigenous Nations Negotiate Exemptions from BC’s Cannabis Legislation By Tanner Doerges Many Indigenous nations across British Columbia are pursuing economic development through cannabis businesses both on- and off-reserve. Some nations have...
The Government of Canada has made recent changes to the criteria for “Indian Status.”
Is now the right time for your First Nation community to take control of your membership list by developing a “custom membership code”?
Land Code takes the place of parts of the Indian Act that relate to land management. Each First Nation can create its own Land Code based on its community’s needs, resources, goals, values, relationship to the land, beliefs and anything else that informs land use and land management. Our lawyers, John Gailus, Tim Watson and Christopher Devlin has experience drafting land code based on individual band’s needs. Visiting the community, listening to what the specific needs are, consultation, discussion and implementation are given the time and attention to detail that they need and warrant for each individual case. Our experience benefits clients and saves time and frustration from incomplete or inexperienced work.
Legalization of Cannabis Represents Opportunities for First Nations On June 21, 2018, the Government of Canada passed the Cannabis Act, which will legalize, regulate and restrict the Canadian public’s access to cannabis. The Cannabis Act creates a comprehensive...