5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Welcome Reception
Room: Crystal Ballroom, 7th floor

7:30 am - 8:30 am

Registration
Room: Grand Ballroom Foyer

8:00 am - 9:00 am

Breakfast

9:00 am - 9:05 am

Welcome Remarks
Room: Grand Ballroom

Conference Co-Chairs:
Genevieve Y. Benoit, MN Trachtenberg Law Corporation (Winnipeg, MB)
Danielle H. Morrison, Cochrane Sinclair (Winnipeg, MB)

9:05 am - 9:20 am

Ceremonial Opening & Protocols
Room: Grand Ballroom

Opening Prayer: Anishinaabe Elder Sherry Copenance
Opening Song: Nathaniel Sinclair
Opening Prayer: Red River Métis Elder Shirley Langan
Accompanying Fiddle: Red River Métis Elder Oliver Boulette

9:20 am - 9:30 am

Welcome from Manitoba Bar Association
Room: Grand Ballroom

Stacey Soldier, Manitoba Branch Association President (Winnipeg, MB)

9:30 am – 10:30 am

Panel Discussion 1:
Aboriginal Law & Indigenous Laws: Ethics and Legal Responsibility
Room: Grand Ballroom
Sponsor

This panel explores the key differences between Indigenous law—the distinct legal traditions and governance systems of Indigenous peoples—and Aboriginal law, which refers to Canadian state law governing Indigenous-state relations. While often conflated, these legal systems come from different sources and reflect different worldviews.

Understanding the distinction is not just academic—it’s an ethical responsibility. As Canada moves toward reconciliation, lawyers must navigate the challenges of working within a multi-juridical landscape. What does it mean to ethically engage with Indigenous legal orders? How can the legal profession support, rather than undermine, Indigenous self-determination?

Join us for a critical conversation on the role of legal professionals in advancing justice, legitimacy, and ethical practice in a plural legal system. Lawyer participants will earn an ethics credit for attendance.

Speakers:
Janell Jackson, University of Manitoba (Winnipeg, MB)
Terence Sakohianisak Douglas, Legal Counsel, Wabaseemoong Child Welfare Authority (Kenora, ON)
Eric Fisher, Co-Executive Director, Wabaseemoong Child Welfare Authority (Kenora, ON)

Moderator(s): 
Danielle H. Morrison, Cochrane Sinclair (Winnipeg, MB)
Genevieve Y. Benoit, MN Trachtenberg Law Corporation (Winnipeg, MB)

10:30 am – 11:00 am

Networking Break

11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Panel Discussion 1: 
Aboriginal Law & Indigenous Laws (Continued)
Room: Grand Ballroom

This panel explores the key differences between Indigenous law—the distinct legal traditions and governance systems of Indigenous peoples—and Aboriginal law, which refers to Canadian state law governing Indigenous-state relations. While often conflated, these legal systems come from different sources and reflect different worldviews.

Understanding the distinction is not just academic—it’s an ethical responsibility. As Canada moves toward reconciliation, lawyers must navigate the challenges of working within a multi-juridical landscape. What does it mean to ethically engage with Indigenous legal orders? How can the legal profession support, rather than undermine, Indigenous self-determination?

Join us for a critical conversation on the role of legal professionals in advancing justice, legitimacy, and ethical practice in a plural legal system. Lawyer participants will earn an ethics credit for attendance.

Speakers:
Janell Jackson, University of Manitoba (Winnipeg, MB)
Terence Sakohianisak Douglas, Legal Counsel, Wabaseemoong Child Welfare Authority (Kenora, ON)
Eric Fisher, Co-Executive Director, Wabaseemoong Child Welfare Authority (Kenora, ON)

Moderator(s): 
Danielle H. Morrison, Cochrane Sinclair (Winnipeg, MB)
Genevieve Y. Benoit, MN Trachtenberg Law Corporation (Winnipeg, MB)

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Lunch

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Panel Discussion 2:
Limitations of Actions Act
Room: Grand Ballroom

Join us as we explore the unique (and often frustrating) legal landscape of limitations legislation as it applies to Aboriginal claims across various provinces. This panel will consider the challenges arising from, workarounds to, and potential future amendment of the always looming prescription period in the context of Aboriginal law litigation. Will certainty and finality or equity and resolution win the day? Come find out!

Speakers:
Jessica Proudfoot, Woodward & Company LLP (Edmonton, AB)
Bradley D. Regehr, K.C., CBA Past President, Partner, Maurice Law (Headingley, MB)
Paul Reid, Walsh LLP (Calgary, AB)

Moderator: 
David How, Cassels (Toronto, ON)

2:30 pm - 3:00 pm

Networking Break

3:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Panel Discussion 3:
Indigenous Governance and Water Law: Protecting Water, Upholding Rights  
Room: Grand Ballroom

This panel explores how Indigenous Nations are asserting their laws and leadership in water governance. Topics include the role of Indigenous laws, expression of Indigenous rights and the protection of water through water governance evolution, emerging co-governance models, and impacts and next steps in relation to the First Nations Drinking Water Settlement. Panelists will share insights on protecting water, advancing Indigenous rights, and building more just and sustainable water systems in Canada.

Speakers:
Alana Robert, McCarthy Tétrault (Toronto, ON)
Aimée Craft, University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law (Ottawa, ON)
Merrell-Ann Phare, Commissioner, International Joint Commission (Winnipeg, MB)

Moderator: 
Kate M. Blomfield, Ratcliff LLP (Vancouver, BC)

4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Networking Reception & Welcome from Premier Wab Kinew
Room: Provencher Ballroom, ground floor

6:30 pm – 10:00 pm

Dinner with Keynote Speaker
Lessons from Mizhana-Giizhik-iban, Murray Sinclair-iban: Where Indigenous Law Has Been & Where It Is Going
Room: Provencher Ballroom

Speaker: Niigaan Sinclair, Professor, University of Manitoba (Winnipeg, MB)

7:30 am – 8:30 am

Registration
Room: Grand Ballroom Foyer

8:00 am – 9:00 am

Breakfast

9:00 am – 9:05 am

Welcome Remarks
Room: Grand Ballroom

9:05 am – 10:00 am

Panel Discussion 4: 
Aboriginal Case Law Update
Room: Ballroom Foyer
Sponsor

Learn from and enjoy our lively review of case law emerging over the past year, including commentary on judicial engagement with Aboriginal title and fee simple title, environmental review and treaties.

Speakers:
Nimkiikwe Abotossaway, Abotossaway Law (Thunder Bay, ON)
Daniel Diamond, University of Manitoba, Faculty of Law (Winnipeg, MB)
Brenda Gunn, University of Manitoba, Faculty of Law (Winnipeg, MB)
Elizabeth Pappas, Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP (Winnipeg, MB)

Moderator:
Wendy Parkes, Lakehead University, Faculty of Law (Thunder Bay, ON)

10:00 am – 10:30 am

Networking Break

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Panel Discussion 4: 
Aboriginal Case Law Update (Continued)
Room: Ballroom Foyer

Learn from and enjoy our lively review of case law emerging over the past year, including commentary on judicial engagement with Aboriginal title and fee simple title, environmental review and treaties.

Speakers:
Nimkiikwe Abotossaway, Abotossaway Law (Thunder Bay, ON)
Daniel Diamond, University of Manitoba, Faculty of Law (Winnipeg, MB)
Brenda Gunn, University of Manitoba, Faculty of Law (Winnipeg, MB)
Elizabeth Pappas, Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP (Winnipeg, MB)

Moderator:
Wendy Parkes, Lakehead University, Faculty of Law (Thunder Bay, ON)

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Lunch

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Panel Discussion 5:
Court Declarations
Declaratory relief: what, why, how and when
Room: Grand Ballroom

Join our speakers – a constitutional scholar and a prominent negotiation counsel – for this discussion of judicial declarations, including history, public-law foundations and varying modern forms and uses.

Speakers:
Nadir André, JFK Law LLP (Toronto, ON)
Gerard Kennedy, University of Alberta (Edmonton, AB)

Moderator:
Monique W. Dull, Legal Services Branch, BC Ministry of Attorney General (Victoria, BC)

2:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Networking Break

3:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Panel Discussion 6: 
Indigenous Data Sovereignty & AI
Room: Grand Ballroom

The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) and other machine learning technologies may have important benefits for Indigenous peoples by helping to preserve and restore culture or providing quicker access or improvements to programs and services.  However, its development and discussions about its regulation often exclude considerations of Indigenous knowledge systems and the rights of Indigenous peoples to govern all aspects of their data. This panel looks at the challenges and policy concerns for Indigenous data sovereignty in the development of AI to present critical questions for Indigenous peoples and all practitioners of Aboriginal law.

Speakers:
Mindy Denny, Information Governance and Data Sovereignty Expert (Eskasoni, Nova Scotia)
Jason Simmonds, PhD, Consultant, Manitoba Métis Federation- National Government of the Red River Métis (Winnipeg, MB)
Benjamin Wald, Senior Research Analyst, Chiefs of Ontario (Toronto, ON)

Moderator: 
Jameela Jeeroburkhan, Dionne Schulze S.E.N.C. (Montréal, QC)

4:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Closing Remarks, Prayer and Song
Room: Grand Ballroom

Section Chair:
Alison J. Carstairs, Law Office of M.J. Carstairs, K.C. and A.J. Carstairs LLP (Port Moody, BC)

Closing Prayer: Anishinaabe Elder Sherry Copenance
Closing Song: Nathaniel Sinclair
Closing Prayer: Red River Métis Elder Shirley Langan