Indigenous Economic Development 2025

Product Type: Course

Session 1

Format

Courses - Rebroadcast

Start Date & Time

2025-12-01

End Date & Time

2025-12-01

Online Provider

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Session 2

Format

Courses - Rebroadcast

Start Date & Time

2025-12-15

End Date & Time

2025-12-15

Online Provider

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DescriptionMore DetailAgenda

Best practices for effective business development

—Rebroadcasts—
On the rebroadcast date, you will have until midnight of that rebroadcast date to access the course. Please note that technical support will be available during regular CLEBC business hours.

Last Kick at the Can Series 2025
Monday, December 1, 2025
Monday, December 15, 2025

(Original webinar date: April 11, 2025)

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Who should attend: Lawyers practicing in the area of business and Aboriginal law, in private practice, industry, and government; others who focus on Aboriginal law issues will also benefit, including Indigenous organizations, in-house counsel, and law students

Learning level: All levels

Effective Indigenous governance has often been closely tied to effective business development.

We will explore how to develop potential best practices for economic development models and structures in the context of industry, technology, services sectors, construction, land development, and finance.

Having a sound understanding of the options and context for Indigenous business will assist industry, government, and Indigenous leaders to form effective business and governance structures and successful business partnerships.

Learn from experts in the field of Indigenous governance, economic development, and industry-Aboriginal partnerships, and hear them discuss their challenges and experiences.

Law Society of BC CPD Hours: 6 hours (this course will contain a minimum of 1 hour pertaining to professional responsibility and ethics, client care and relations, and/or practice management)

Course Chair
Adam Munnings — Munnings Law, West Vancouver

*Last Kick at the Can 2025*
Rebroadcast	$579
Rebroadcast Articled Student	$289

Are you a member of the Indigenous legal community (lawyer/Articled Student/legal support staff/paralegal) or a non-lawyer Indigenous community member?
We value your contributions and encourage your participation in all of our programs. To increase accessibility, we offer a 50% discount* to all Indigenous lawyers/Articled Students/legal support staff/paralegals and a limited number of free online registrations to non-lawyer Indigenous community members. (*discount applies to Regular prices, not Early Bird prices). Please contact Customer Service to find out more.

Unable to attend a course without financial assistance from CLEBC?
Click here for bursary information.

Want to register for a course now, but prefer a monthly payment plan?
Check out our Easy Pay Plan.

Registration includes an electronic copy of the reference materials.

CLEBC Program Lawyer*
Teresa Sheward
tsheward@cle.bc.ca
*non-practising

Course Chair
Adam Munnings — Munnings Law, West Vancouver

About the Course Chair
Adam Munnings is Anishnaabe from Curve Lake First Nation and has been a lawyer practicing in a boutique Aboriginal law firm since 2010. He has acted as general counsel for Aboriginal communities and their organizations in a wide range of matters, including economic development, specific claims, reserve land management, employment, governance, accommodation of Aboriginal rights, and negotiations and agreements with government and industry.

In June 2015, he completed his MBA in Aboriginal Business and Leadership at SFU, as a way to better support his client's business needs. This paved the way for founding Munnings Law in 2016, a boutique Aboriginal and Business law firm.

Adam serves as Board chair for the Vancouver Native Health Society, as a member of the Board for the PHS Community Services Society, and a member of the Canadian Bar Association BC ("CBABC") Provincial Council. Previously he has served as chair of the CBABC Aboriginal Lawyers Forum, chair of North Shore Restorative Justice, and president of the Aboriginal Housing Management Association. Adam has written articles, presented at professional education courses and as a guest lecturer at UBC and the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology.

In addition, he has recently started fly fishing, hunting and powerlifting, enjoys the outdoors, camping and finding time for travel with his wife and dogs.

Faculty
Andrew Beynon — RC Director, Land Code Governance, First Nations Land Management Resource Centre, Sutton West
Darwin I. Hanna — Callison & Hanna Indigenous Advocates, Vancouver
George Hungerford, CFA, CAIA — George N.F. Hungerford, Vancouver
Timothy J. Lack — Redpoint Law LLP, Vancouver
Dr. Millie Nickason, PhD, MPA — Barrister & Solicitor, Nanaimo
Chris Roine — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver
Zachary Romano — Fasken Martineau Dumoulin LLP, Vancouver
Allison J. Russell — Rana Law, Vancouver
Kassie K. Seaby — Rana Law, Vancouver
Claudia Wheler — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver

Click here for full faculty bios

Course Introduction and Land Acknowledgement (9:00 – 9:10)

Teresa Sheward — Program Lawyer, CLEBC, Vancouver
Adam Munnings — Munnings Law, West Vancouver

Indigenous Equity Investments in Major Projects (9:10 – 9:55)

Indigenous equity investments in energy, natural resource, and other infrastructure projects offer industry proponents a valuable opportunity to align their interests with those of Indigenous communities, facilitating mutual benefits from such projects
Indigenous equity participation is becoming increasingly prevalent and presents unique challenges and considerations that differ from other co-ownership scenarios
acknowledging the diversity of Indigenous communities and their perspectives, we will address common priorities to be considered in relation to economic, environmental, and cultural interests of Indigenous communities
we will explore recent examples and trends across various industries, and delve into structuring considerations, transactional issues, best practices, and strategies for success
this comprehensive approach helps navigate the complexities and foster meaningful collaboration with Indigenous communities on projects and transactions involving Indigenous equity participation

Zachary Romano — Fasken Martineau Dumoulin LLP, Vancouver

Indigenous Economic Development in Canada: An Institutional Approach (9:55 – 10:40)

the Indigenous development challenge
institutional approach
the Quebec Model and Framework—Maitres Chez Nous
first generation EcDev Institutions
recent innovations (2020s)
RoadMap (2022)
current initiatives outside RoadMap
an Indigenous Model and Framework—grabbing the instruments of success

George Hungerford, CFA, CAIA — George N.F. Hungerford, Vancouver

BREAK (10:40 – 10:55)

Buying New Development Properties on Indigenous Lands (10:55 – 11:25)

identifying the registration regime
differences between the Indigenous registries and the BC Land Title office
what to watch in preparing documents
answers to your clients' typical questions
lender/mortgagee issues
title insurance issues
foreclosure and remedies issues

Timothy J. Lack — Redpoint Law LLP, Vancouver

The Application of Provincial Laws to First Nation Lands (11:25 – 12:10)

the significantly increased pace and scale of developments on First Nation lands: many developers, lenders, construction companies, and other non-Indigenous businesses are keen to understand the regulatory context for these projects
key constitutional law issues: interjurisdictional immunity and paramountcy, and specific provisions of the Indian Act that factor into the analysis
review of existing caselaw: how the courts have interpreted the application of various types of provincial laws on First Nations Lands, including property taxation, residential tenancies, builders' liens, receivership, employment and labour, and other topics
Land Codes, modern treaties, and self-government agreements on the application of provincial laws on First Nation lands (the focus will be on BC, but with cases and examples across Canada)
advice for counsel of Indigenous governing bodies, Indigenous economic development corporations, developers, and lenders: the importance of understanding the concerns key stakeholders with respect to application of provincial laws on First Nation lands and strategies to address same

Chris Roine — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver
Claudia Wheler — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver

LUNCH (12:10 – 1:00)

Managing Key Assets: Lessons Learned from the Federal Additions to Reserve Process (1:00 – 1:40)

one of the key economic development assets for First Nations to manage is their land. In many cases, it is necessary to navigate the complex federal Additions to Reserve ("ATR") process to add land to existing reserves or create new reserves.
practical tips for initiating and completing that process
history and overview of legislation and policy
current work to redesign the ATR Policy
context of experience
your client wants to complete an ATR—what now?
- types of ATRs
- steps
- Canada's process
other considerations: Land Code

Allison J. Russell — Rana Law, Vancouver
Kassie K. Seaby — Rana Law, Vancouver

The New First Nation Land Governance Registry (1:40 – 2:10)

the First Nations Land Governance Registry ("FNLGR") aims to establish a First Nation-controlled, independent land registry for Operational First Nations under the Framework Agreement, as well as for participating Self-Governing First Nations
this session will address a broad range of topics related to the creation and management of on-reserve land interests, guided by modernized regulations and registry standards under the new FNLGR

Andrew Beynon — RC Director, Land Code Governance, First Nations Land Management Resource Centre, Sutton West

BREAK (2:10 – 2:25)

Aboriginal Title and Governance: Essential Links and Implications for Economic Development (2:25 – 3:10)

this presentation will review the nature of Aboriginal title, where it is found in Canada, who owns and holds it, the scope of governance rights that attach to Aboriginal title, and how that is reflected in Canadian law
Canadian law recognizes that Indigenous legal orders continue to determine Aboriginal title, rights to lands and resources, and jurisdiction: these legal orders predate and co-exist with Canadian law
we will review some sources of Indigenous law in Canada and how it determines rights to lands, resources and other valuable community and private property; and also determines the structures and processes of authoritative and legitimate collective decision-making for the Indigenous nation
Canadian law also recognizes the exclusive right of Indigenous peoples to govern their Aboriginal title lands, addressing a wide range of jurisdiction that covers economic development, land and resource management, etc. Canadian law protects both the right to govern and the choice of how to govern.
these issues are fundamental to governance and to economic development by and for the Indigenous peoples who hold title to their traditional territories and ancestral lands. Understanding this context can improve negotiations and the outcomes of economic development initiatives.

Dr. Millie Nickason, PhD, MPA — Barrister & Solicitor, Nanaimo

Achieving the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent Standard for Indigenous Members (3:10 – 3:40)

in accordance with the UNDRIP principle of free, prior, and informed consent, an Indigenous Nation owes a fiduciary duty to its members when considering a decision that may affect member rights and beneficial financial interests
through the implementation of FPIC, many Nations are negotiating and entering into economic inclusion agreements that are to "benefit" members
there are live legal issues and considerations regarding inclusion of members when the leadership are considering business, investment and expenditure decisions relating to own source revenues that are for the benefit of members
best practices and recent caselaw regarding the fiduciary duty of leadership, obtaining the "will" of membership to uphold the FPIC standard, application of the "no conflict" and "no profit" rules in dealing with Nation funds, including the disgorgement of meetings fees under Webb v. Genaille, 2023 BCCA 443

Darwin I. Hanna — Callison & Hanna Indigenous Advocates, Vancouver

Questions and Discussion (3:40 – 4:00)

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Indigenous Economic Development 2025

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