Our legal team is proud to stand with Indigenous peoples in asserting, defending, and advancing their inherent Aboriginal and treaty rights.

Among the firm’s many accomplishments was its involvement in the Cree of Eeyou Istchee’s fight in the 1973 James Bay litigation, in which an historic injunction was granted in favour of the Cree and Inuit of Quebec to block a hydroelectric project in the traditional territory of the Cree and Inuit in Quebec. This landmark case led to the signing of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement in 1975, the first so-called “modern” treaty in Canada. On February 7, 2002, the Cree Nation of Eeyou Istchee and the Government of Quebec signed the Paix des Braves to develop a new relationship between the two Nations.

From left to right: Prime Minister Bernard Landry, Grand Chief Ted Moses and James O'Reilly

Over the years, the firm has represented Aboriginal nations across the country in a multitude of capacities, including working with:

  • The Cree Nation of Eeyou Istchee on numerous issues relating to their self-determination, land rights, and environmental protection

  • The Mohawk Nation in relation to illegally expropriated lands

  • Innu communities in relation to their assertion of Aboriginal rights

  • The Lubicon in Alberta in their struggle for recognition as Aboriginal people and in defence of their rights

  • The Samson community in Alberta in defending their rights

Our legal team has been involved in numerous cases of historical importance to Aboriginal peoples that have set important precedents in Quebec and Canada, including:

  • Innus de Uashat et de Mani-Utenam (Innus de UMM) c. Procureur général du Québec, 2022 QCCS 4625 (CanLII)

  • Wesley v. Alberta, 2022 ABKB 713

  • Newfoundland and Labrador (Attorney General) v. Uashaunnuat (Innu of Uashat and of Mani‑Utenam), 2020 SCC 4 (CanLII), [2020] 1 SCR 15

  • Strateco Resources Inc. v. Attorney General of Quebec, 2020 QCCA 18; Strateco Resources Inc. v. Attorney General of Quebec, 2020 CanLII 76222 (SCC)

  • Wesley First Nation (Stoney Nakoda First Nation) v. Alberta, 2013 ABQB 344

  • Henco Industries Limited v. Haudenosaunee Six Nations Confederacy Council, 2006 CanLII 41649 (ON CA)

  • Buffalo v. Canada, 2005 FC 1622

  • Lord v. Canada (Attorney General), 2000 CanLII 9079 (QC CA)

  • R. v. Adams, [1996] 3 SCR 101

  • Canada (Attorney General) c. Coon Come, 1991 CanLII 3656 (QC CA)

  • Joe v. Canada, [1986] 2 SCR 145

  • Lubicon Lake Band v. Norcen Energy Resources Ltd., 1985 ABCA 12

  • Joe v. Canada, [1984] 1 CNLR 96 (FCA)

  • Nowegijick v. The Queen, [1983] 1 SCR 29

  • Kanatewat et al. v. James Bay Development Corporation et al., [1975] 1 SCR 48

  • Chief Robert Kanatewat et al. v. James Bay Development Corporation et al., [1974] RP 38 (QSC)