CV

Assistant Professor, Department of Law and Legal Studies, Faculty of Public Affairs, Carleton University — January 2020 – Present

• Taught seminars
• Supervised graduate students
• Co-authored peer reviewed publications
• Co-applicant on two successful grant applications to SSRCH
• Co-principal investigator on the Ărramăt Project
• Served on the undergraduate curriculum committee and hiring department
• Recipient of Carleton University Student’s Association (CUSA) Teaching Excellent Award

Contract Instructor — 2008-2018

• Worked as a contract Instructor to two Indigenous post secondary institutions in Alberta, teaching Indigenous Treaties, governance, as well as Canadian Aboriginal law and business law
• The institutions included Maskwacis Cultural College and Blue Quills University 

Sole Practitioner (Maskwacis, Alberta) — 2009 – 2019

• Worked exclusively with an Indigenous client base, my practice centred on Canadian and provincial law respecting or directly impacting First Nations; Indigenous legal orders and the revitalization of Indigenous law, protocols and practices; environmental law; corporate and not-for-profit law and governance; First Nations governance and administration; Treaty law; and, international law

Associate, J. Wilton Littlechild Law Office (Maskwacis, Alberta) — 2003 – 2009

• Had significant autonomy in building my own practice around First Nations and matters including governance; environment; water; corporate law; band administration and drafting of by-laws constitutions; and negotiations with Crown governments

Consultant and Advisor, Assembly of First Nations — 2007-present

• Provided advice, legal and technical support regarding Canadian and international law and advocacy; Indigenous governance; water & wastewater; environment, conservation, biodiversity and climate change; Indigenous laws and customary laws; Indigenous rights and other matters

Expert Advisory Committee Member, Biodiversity Pathways in Canada — 2020 – 2021

• The project assessed progress, roadblocks, and tradeoffs in Canada’s contributions to the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, thus forming a knowledge synthesis to inform Canada’s post-2020 vision for biodiversity and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• The project also contributed to a global Science-based Pathways for Sustainability (SBPS) initiative, being undertaken by Future Earth, an international network facilitating research and innovation for global sustainability
• SBPS aims to support integrated and forward-looking approaches to the SDGs by mobilizing expertise around the world on building scenarios and pathways for attaining the SDGs

Joint Committee on Climate Action — 2017 – 2021

• Co-appointed by the Prime Minister of Canada and the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, the JCCA is focused on improving access to federal programs, while reflecting First Nation’s climate priorities and promoting self-determination for First Nations in the context of Climate Justice

First Nations Health Consultation Liaison and Consultant — 2013-2019

• Facilitator of the Joint Action Health Plan for First Nations, the Alberta Government and the Federal Government
• Facilitator and Writer for Elders Advisory on Health comprised of Elders from Treaties 6, 7 & 8 producing the Elders Declaration on Health (2013-2016)
• Primary Author the the Trilateral Memorandum of Understanding on Jordan’s Principle  between First Nations, the Alberta Government and the Federal Government (2018)
• Primary Author of numerous Health reports and submissions for Maskwacis including to the United Nations on their Study on the Right to Health of Indigenous Peoples with a focus on Children and Youth

Co-Chair, Indigenous Circle of Experts, Pathway to Canada Target 1 — 2017-2018

• Canada Target 1 was one of the 2020 Biodiversity goals and Targets for Canada, to protect and conserve at least 17 percent of terrestrial areas and inland waters. The Indigenous Circle of Experts was mandated to produce and report with recommendations and guidance on Indigenous Peoples, conservation and protected areas in Canada, which was completed and delivered to the federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada in a transfer ceremony led by Elders Larry McDermott, Reg Crowshoe and his wife Rose Crowshoe

Vice President, Canadian Commission for UNESCO — 2014-2018

• After over ten years of engagement with CCUNESCO in various roles, including chairing the Sectoral Commission on Culture, Communication and Information, I served as the first Indigenous person to hold the office of Vice President in the history of the Commission

Consulting Legal Counsel, International Indian Treaty Council — 2011-2018

• IITC is an NGO with General Consultative Status (ECOSOC) at the United Nations, working with Indigenous Peoples from the Americas, the Caribbean and the Pacific working for the Sovereignty and Self-Determination of Indigenous Peoples and the recognition and protection of Indigenous Rights, Treaties, Traditional Cultures and Sacred Lands
• Provided numerous written and verbal submissions and interventions to United Nations specialized agencies, treaty monitoring bodies, special procedures and treaty negotiations
• Represented Indigenous Peoples under numerous processes including the negotiation of the Sustainable Development Goals, Rio +20, the Minamata Convention on Mercury, and the Conference of the Parties for many multilateral environmental agreements (Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, Basel Convention, Rotterdam Convention, Convention on Biological Diversity, amongst others)

University of Victoria  — LLM 2015

University of Oklahoma College of Law Fellowship in Comparative and Federal Indigenous Peoples Law — Fellowship, 2014

University of Toronto — LLB, 2000

Carleton University — B.A. (Hons.), 1997

• Carleton University Student’s Association (CUSA) Teaching Excellence Award Recipient (2020/2021)
• Alberta Aboriginal Role Model Award for Justice (2016)
• Esquao Award for Justice and Human Rights (2015), Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women
• Designation as Treaty Lawyer by Elders at Fort Pitt, (2013)

• Project Access Tribal Link Indigenous Peoples Representative (2013)
• United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Training Programme to Enhance the Conflict Prevention and Peace-Building Capacities of Indigenous Peoples’ Representatives (2010)