In This Issue ALF Executive Update 2023 By Randy Robinson
Spring 2023 Issue 12, Volume 1
Thank you to Michelle Casavant By Christina J. Cook
Skú7pecen Up: Building the Next Generation of Legal Professionals By Sunny LeBourdais
ALF Executive Update 2023 By Randy Robinson, ALF Chair
A
s we reflect on 2022 and contemplate the new year, it is worth taking stock of some of the tremendous accomplishments of the last year. The Aboriginal Lawyers Forum is pleased to announce its 12th Annual ALF Holiday Banquet was a great success. Our keynote speaker, The Honourable Justice Len Marchand Jr, spoke of the challenges we continue to address as Indigenous lawyers and also of the resilience we demonstrate in our collective work toward equality in the legal profession. The ALF honoured two distinguished members of ourcommunity with our highest award, the Special Contribution Award.
The ALF recognizes the extraordinary recipients of this year’s ALF Special Contribution Award: Myrna McCallum and Douglas S. White III, KC. The Aboriginal Lawyers Forum Special Contribution Award allows us to recognize Indigenous individuals in the legal profession who have demonstrated an outstanding contribution to Indigenous people in the field of law. We are proud to honour and celebrate the achievements of Douglas White and Myrna McCallum. We also recognize the recent achievement of our Past Chair Isabel Jackson receiving the President’s Medal by virtue of Past CBABC President Clare Jennings.
Many thanks to our gracious donors who helped raise money the silent auction for the ALF Warrior Project and also the funds raised through the ALF Toy Drive for the Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society. CBABC staff member Arianne Moran was instrumental in facilitating the orderly, vibrant, and festive gathering. I gratefully acknowledge the tremendous work of ALF’s Executive as we continue to work on providing opportunities: Isabel Jackson (Past Chair), Christina J. Cook (Vice-Chair), Geordie Hungerford (Member at Large), Martin Buhler (Legislative Liaison), Breanne Martin (Member at Large), Charlotte Rose (Member at Large), Angeline Nyce (Member at Large), Shawnee Monchalin (Member at Large), Sheila Simpson (Member at Large) to the 22-23 team. I was pleased to recognize the Executive’s exceptional contributions with our sacred medicine of sweetgrass. The sweetgrass was provided by ALF Vice Chair Christina J. Cook. The sweetgrass came from Manitoba – we are so please to incorporate this important medicine into our work. The ALF Membership can look forward to our bi-Annual Retreat, on June 23-25 at Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort on Vancouver Island which I will be leading as my final event as Chair. Continued on the following page
Forum Drum Editors: Christina J. Cook, Charlotte Rose, Shawnee Monchalin
CBABC President’s Medal Award to Isabel Jackson By Shawnee Monchalin The Hazelton Indigenous Court By Laurie Paulin & Camille O’Sullivan
The First Nations Justice Council – An Exciting New Venture By Darrin Blain Indigenous Thriving - The 10th Annual ALF Retreat in 2022 By Christina J. Cook Update from UBC ILSA By Co-Presidents, Cheyenne Campbell & Allan Prest “Separate Beds: A History of Indian Hospitals in Canada” 1920s-1980s Book review by Dr. Paula Cook
Making Waves: Marine Delivery of Legal Services By Anne Fletcher Update from Thompson Rivers University ILSA
A Night To Remember in Coast Salish Territory By Charlotte Rose Meet Your LSBC Indigenous Benchers By Christina J. Cook
An invitation to Indigenous lawyers and community members from CLEBC
ABORIGINAL LAWYERS FORUM