Course Chairs
Rosanne M. Kyle, KC — Mandell Pinder LLP, Vancouver
Stephen Mussell — Mandell Pinder LLP, oskana ka-asastēki (Regina) & Vancouver
About the Course Chairs
Rosanne Kyle has been a trusted advisor to Indigenous clients for almost 30 years, representing First Nations in litigation, negotiations, regulatory processes for resource development projects, and consultation processes. It has been her privilege to work collaboratively with her clients to help achieve reconciliation of their section 35 rights.
Rosanne has been recognized as a leading lawyer in the Aboriginal law field in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Best Lawyers in Canada, the Doyle Guide, and Chambers Canada. In 2022, Canadian Lawyer named Rosanne in its list of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers 2022. She was also asked to become a "Woman for Nature" with Nature Canada, in recognition of her work in the Aboriginal and environmental law fields.
Rosanne has been counsel to First Nations before regulatory bodies such as the National Energy Board and environmental assessment panels and represents First Nations in reconciliation agreement and treaty negotiations and implementation matters.
Stephen Mussell is Michif (Métis) and a citizen of the Manitoba Métis Federation. His mother's family hails from mikisiw wacîhk (the Eagle Hills), Duck Lake, and northeastern BC (Pouce Coupe/Progress). His father's family hails from the historic Métis community located in the Red River Valley, Manitoba.
Stephen is committed to using his western legal education and his belief in the inherent weight and force of Indigenous legal orders to bring about transformational change. His practice focuses on advancing the legal rights of Indigenous peoples and supporting Indigenous peoples in exercising their right to self-determination. Stephen is driven by a desire to continue the good work of those who came before him, and to leave a better world for future generations.
Featured Speakers
The Honourable Senator Michèle Audette — Senate of Canada, Ottawa
Darius Bossé — Juristes Power Law, Ottawa
Senator Michèle Taïna Audette grew up immersed in both the Innu and Quebec cultures. She was born in Wabush, Labrador, and spent her early years in Schefferville, Mani-Utenam and Montreal. From the moment she was born, she has experienced discrimination as both a woman and an Indigenous person, and she has dedicated herself to pursuing equality, equity, justice, and social justice.
Senator Audette is committed to advancing First Peoples' issues, including issues faced by Indigenous women, and to building bridges to create an inclusive and respectful society for all.
She studied visual arts at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM) and art education at Concordia University. She holds two honorary doctorates, one from the University of Montreal for her political and social advocacy on behalf of Indigenous women and the other one from the Faculty of Social Sciences of University of Ottawa.
Her past roles include serving as president of the Native Women's Association of Quebec (FAQ), the Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC), and as commissioner for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (NIMMIWG).
In the fall of 2019, she joined Laval University as a senior advisor for reconciliation and Indigenous education. She was appointed senator in July 2021.
Originally from New Brunswick, Darius Bossé now lives in Ottawa where his passion for public law and politics has flourished. Darius focuses his practice on constitutional law, administrative law, and parliamentary and government affairs.
Complementing his focused public law practice, Darius has gained extensive experience working on civil litigation matters more broadly, including on appellate and judicial review matters. He has represented his clients' interests before the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal, the New Brunswick Court of Appeal, and the Ontario Superior Court.
With experience at the crossroads of law and policy, he guides his clients through legislative and policy development processes, including by proposing legislative amendments and preparing clients for appearances before parliamentary committees. He also has experience interpreting, negotiating, and implementing intergovernmental agreements.
Darius began his legal career clerking for Justice Henry S. Brown of the Federal Court and Justice Suzanne Côté of the Supreme Court of Canada. As an articling student and then associate at Power Law, Darius worked on the largest and most complex education rights trial since the adoption of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Darius' work experience before and during law school greatly informs his practice. For example, while studying law, Darius worked as a Parliamentary Assistant to a member of the House of Commons, and interned at the Office of the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel for the Senate of Canada.
Darius is the author of several academic articles that explore a variety of issues in the areas of constitutional law, administrative law, minority law, statutory interpretation law, and human rights. Darius practices in English and French.
Faculty
Deborah L. Curran — Professor, Faculty of Law and School of Environmental Studies; Executive Director, Environmental Law Centre, UVic, Victoria
Kate Gunn — First Peoples Law LLP, Vancouver
Larry Innes — Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP, Yellowknife
Nick Leeson — Woodward & Company Lawyers LLP, Victoria
Dr. Millie Nickason, PhD, MPA — Barrister & Solicitor, Nanaimo
Jacqueline Ohayon — LL.M. Candidate, UVic, Victoria
Crystal Reeves — Mandell Pinder LLP, Vancouver
Charlotte Weston — Student, Peter A. Allard School of Law, UBC, Vancouver
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