Pape Salter Teillet LLP
Barristers and Solicitors

Our areas of focus:

• Fighting for rights and resolving disputes

  PST has a long history of successful litigation on behalf of Indigenous governments – at all levels of the courts and through all stages of trial and appeal, up to and including arguing cases before the Supreme Court of Canada. We’ve been counsel for parties or intervenors in nearly every major Indigenous rights case to reach the Supreme Court since the early 1980s. We also represent our clients at regulatory tribunals, as well as judicial reviews of public governments.

  We can help your Nation advance specific claims arising from the Crown’s past actions – or failures to act – regarding treaty rights and other obligations. And we’ll support you through the full array of treaty resolution processes, including negotiations, specific claims and arbitration that incorporates traditional Indigenous approaches to dispute resolution.

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• Protecting your lands, waters and wildlife

  We understand that your territory is your future; protecting its lands, waters, animals and fish is one of your highest priorities. Only your government and your people can decide what is in the best interests of your territory – today and for generations to come. PST brings decades of experience and specialized expertise to helping you assert your stewardship rights and then implement your jurisdiction over your lands. We ensure that any project planned for your territory is sustainable and will proceed only if it’s aligned with your Nation’s vision for the future.

  We’ve helped our clients achieve breakthrough victories and first-of-their-kind agreements to protect their territories and assert their rights. We’ve worked alongside them to develop co-management regimes and reach milestone agreements with regulators on the conduct of environmental reviews. Our team has helped negotiate environmental protection and planning protocols with governments. We’ve secured free, prior and informed consent on some of the largest energy and mining projects in Canada, including several nuclear facilities and the largest gold mine in Ontario. And the agreements we’ve negotiated with companies have set new standards for environmental protection and shared decision-making.

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• Building prosperity and social well-being

  PST has a decades-long record of success in helping Nations achieve groundbreaking economic deals. We’ve supported our clients in forging agreements across a wide range of sectors, from mining and forestry to energy generation and transmission – including hydroelectric, nuclear, solar and wind. We understand the complexities of these agreements and help ensure that projects go ahead only if they make sense for your people and contribute meaningfully to your long-term prosperity.

  Your Nation shouldn’t simply be paid to get out of the way. You rightly expect any economic development involving your territory to be a true partnership, giving you ownership and control over a project that will shape your future. We work with your team to determine what kind of structure will work best. It could be an impact and benefit agreement, equity participation, joint partnership, full ownership or a broader Indigenous-led development – we find the best options together. And to realize your ambitions, we not only help negotiate the deal but provide the support and advice you need to secure financing and/or loan guarantees – backed by proven, Indigenous-focused corporate and tax law advice.

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• Negotiating with other governments

  PST provides legal support to Indigenous governments engaging with other governments and their agencies at the federal, provincial, territorial and municipal levels. We have the experience and expertise to help negotiate complex tax agreements, fiscal transfers, revenue sharing agreements and joint governance responsibility for programs and services. We help ensure you get the fiscal support you need to protect your lands and run your government.

  We can help your Nation pursue treaty land entitlement claims and negotiate rights recognition agreements. We’ll support you in collaborating with other governments on land use planning – and in seeing that public governments live up to their responsibilities. We also develop strategies and mechanisms for collaborative law and policy making.

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• Strengthening and advancing governance

  PST has long been at the forefront in helping Nations negotiate modern treaties and then advising on the legal aspects of implementing them. We have deep expertise in the development of Indigenous constitutions and laws, including laws and policies for housing, land management and protection, heritage, and community safety and wellness. We can provide guidance on building new government structures within your community, along with ongoing support for self-governance. We can also build a solid legal foundation for your community housing and infrastructure projects. And our team includes experts in the law governing all aspects of economic well-being, including employment, taxation and the management of trusts. We know how to craft the legal tools to assert your jurisdiction over your lands and your resources.

  We don’t believe there’s another law firm in Canada with comparable depth of experience in negotiating treaties and self-government. After more than 45 years, we bring an unrivalled wealth of learning and experience to building agreements that are truly groundbreaking – and that stand the test of time.

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