Aboriginal Law - Hunter Litigation Chambers - Litigation Counsel

Areas of Practice

Aboriginal Law

Counsel from Hunter Litigation Chambers have been in the forefront of the development of a body of aboriginal law in British Columbia, representing industry and occasionally government in responding to claims of aboriginal rights and title. Throughout the 1990's, John Hunter acted as counsel for MacMillan Bloedel and other forest companies in both bringing and defending injunction proceedings and judicial review applications relating to aboriginal claims.

Since that time, John has acted for the Attorney General of British Columbia in aboriginal rights litigation and John and Mike Stephens have represented the Attorney General of Canada in a major consultation and accommodation case. John acted for Weyerhaeuser in the British Columbia courts and the Supreme Court of Canada in the recent seminal decision in which the Court held that private industry did not have an obligation to consult and accommodate aboriginal claims, while clarifying the nature of the Crown's obligations. John has been recognized by Lexpert as a leading practitioner in aboriginal law in British Columbia.

Recently, the firm has been retained by the Province to act as counsel for British Columbia in defending an aboriginal claim to commercial fishing rights and title to foreshore land off Vancouver Island.