Indigenous Real Estate 2026
Course Date: April 23, 2026
Total: 6h 1min
Total Ethics: 55min
Indigenous Real Estate 2026
Course Date: April 23, 2026
Total: 6h 1min
Total Ethics: 55min
Course Introduction and Land Acknowledgement (9:00 – 9:10)
Teresa Sheward — Program Lawyer, CLEBC, Vancouver
Darren Haines — Aird & Berlis LLP, Vancouver
Jennifer M. Williams — MLT Aikins LLP, Vancouver
Darren Haines — Aird & Berlis LLP, Vancouver
Jennifer M. Williams — MLT Aikins LLP, Vancouver
Building Relationships: How to Approach First Nations (9:10 – 9:40)
- cultural humility
- who is your client
- understanding capacity of lands departments
Neegann Aaswaakshin — Director of Reconciliation and In-house Legal Counsel, Lax Kw'alaams First Nation, Lax Kw'alaams
Context: Different Types of Land Regimes (9:40 – 10:25)
- what can and cannot be registered
- different types of land regimes
Blair Feltmate — JFK Law LLP, Vancouver
BREAK (10:25 – 10:40)
Leasing on First Nation Lands (10:40 – 11:15)
- lease structures
- agreements to lease
- leasing processes and registration
- sublease structures
Andrea M. East — Pushor Mitchell LLP, Kelowna
ATR Additions to Reserve Lands (11:15 – 11:50)
- what Additions to Reserve (ATRs) are and why they matter to First Nations
- practical benefits of ATRs for Nations, including economic development and urban reserves
- why ATRs are increasingly common in urban and serviced land contexts
- high level overview of the ATR process and key players
- common legal and execution issues practitioners encounter (third party interests, environmental, municipal interface)
- brief update on ATR policy reform and interim changes
- practical guidance on how lawyers can assist Nations, partners, and lenders on ATR related files
Jennifer M. Williams — MLT Aikins LLP, Vancouver
NETWORKING LUNCH (provided to in-person registrants) (11:50 – 12:50)
Matrimonial Real Property Rights on First Nation Lands (12:50 – 1:15) (virtual presentation)
Introduction
-
- the relatively recent history of inadequate legal protection of matrimonial real property rights
- emergence of legal protections and First Nation laws
- still some distance to go for adequate legal protection?
First Nation Law Making Authority
-
- inherent rights, self-government agreements, and federal law
- implementation of matrimonial real property laws
The Future
-
- First Nation real estate and economic development
- expansion of First Nation lands and governance relevant to matrimonial real property
Andrew Beynon — Director, Land Code Governance, First Nations Land Management Resource Centre, Ontario
First Nations Land Registries (1:15 – 1:50) (virtual presentation)
- overview of the development of the FNLGR
- how to differentiate between the land registry systems currently available to First Nations
- demo of parcel search for legal professionals
Cathy McLeod — Deputy Registrar, First Nation Land Governance Registry, Ontario
Secured Lending (1:50 – 2:20)
- drafting tips for solicitors for secured transactions where security is on reserve
Saravan Veylan — MLT Aikins LLP, Vancouver
Foreclosures on Reserve Lands (2:20 – 2:50)
- restrictions on seizure under the Indian Act and the exception found in s. 89(1.1)
- importance of determining the relevant land governance system when enforcing
- searches in the Indian Lands Registry System and the root of title system
- transferring property after Sale Approval Order or Order Absolute
Sherryl Dubo — Dentons Canada LLP, Vancouver
Aboriginal Title Refresher (3:05 – 4:05)
- the recognition of Aboriginal title by Canadian courts
- the source of Aboriginal title—where does it come from?
- the content of Aboriginal title—what is it?
- proving Aboriginal title—how is it proven?
- the relationship between Aboriginal title and fee simple
- key takeaways—where is the law now and where is it going?
Kate Oja — Ratcliff LLP, North Vancouver
Natalia Sudeyko — Ratcliff LLP, North Vancouver
Natalia Sudeyko — Ratcliff LLP, North Vancouver
Questions and Discussion (4:05 – 4:30)
Darren Haines — Aird & Berlis LLP, Vancouver
Jennifer M. Williams — MLT Aikins LLP, Vancouver
Jennifer M. Williams — MLT Aikins LLP, Vancouver
Contributor(s):
Presentation Content:
Slides: Building Relationships: How To Approach First Nations
Contributor(s):
Presentation Content:
Contributor(s):
Presentation Content:
Contributor(s):
Presentation Content:
Contributor(s):
Presentation Content:
Contributor(s):
Presentation Content:
Contributor(s):
Paper: Enforcement Against On‑Reserve Property Under Section 89 of the Indian Act: Exceptions and Persistent Misreadings
Contributor(s):
Presentation Content:
Contributor(s):
Presentation Content: