Areas of Law

INDIGENOUS LAW

Etienne has extensive experience in advising First Nation Bands, organizations, and commercial entities on a wide range of issues ranging from governance matters to corporate issues. This is why Etienne went to law school and became a lawyer.

Aboriginal law in Canada is incredibly complex due to its colonial history and the ongoing effects of colonialism. There are numerous treaties, laws, and court cases that all have an impact on Indigenous peoples’ rights and access to justice. The Indian Act, enacted in 1876, is still in place and has been used to limit and control Indigenous peoples’ access to land and resources. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action have brought attention to the need for reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, yet progress on these Calls has been slow. The Indian Act, treaties, and court cases are just a few examples of the complexity of Aboriginal law in Canada. The history, culture, and issues facing Indigenous peoples are complex and require thoughtful consideration and action.

Etienne routinely advises clients on their historical claims against the governments and industry due to claims arising from the unlawful trespassing and taking of resources and has experience with the specific claims process.

Etienne assists First Nation clients with negotiating and implementing their energy, mining, and forestry deals.

CORPORATE AND COMMERCIAL LAW

Etienne assists clients with commercial matters such as: preparing contracts, incorporations, joint ventures, limited partnerships, shareholder agreements, creation of trusts, debt collection, and commercial liens.

INDIGENOUS BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Etienne has a unique and distinguished experience with helping his Indigenous clients pursue their economic and development goals with various forms of business entities. He has a profound appreciation for the fact that Indigenous businesses in Canada are different from non-Indigenous businesses in several ways. Indigenous businesses are more likely to be located in remote and rural areas, have a higher gross income on average, and employ more people. They are also more likely to focus on providing culturally sensitive services to their local Indigenous communities, and providing cultural services to the wider community. Indigenous businesses also have a strong commitment to sustainable business practices, and are focused on preserving and revitalizing Indigenous cultures. They often partner with non-Indigenous organizations to provide training and employment opportunities to Indigenous people. Additionally, Indigenous businesses have access to special funding and initiatives from the federal and provincial governments, allowing them to grow and develop their businesses.

CIVIL LITIGATION

Etienne represents clients before various courts, tribunals, and other administrative bodies on a wide range of civil litigation issues such as legal issues concerning Aboriginal rights, estate disputes, employment law, taxation, bankruptcy matters, debt collection, commercial disputes, construction law, forestry liens, storage liens, wrongful dismissal, human rights, and coroner’s inquests.

For example, Etienne was counsel to the Northern Nishnawbe Education Council in the 8-month long 7 First Nation Youth Inquest that concluded in 2016 and resulted in 145 recommendations aimed at making the situation safer for First Nation kids who have to attend school in Thunder Bay. The inquest was said to be one of the largest First Nation specific inquests in the history of Ontario.

Some other current and past engagements that Etienne has and is counsel on include:

Representing an Indigenous woman and her two-spirited parents with their human rights complaint before the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal against a hospital and its service provider.
Representing a brother who tragically lost his only brother in a house fire as a result of the negligence of the home owner and a municipality.
Representing an elderly couple in their claim with respect to a deficient home that was provided to them from a pre-fabrication home company.
Represented a First Nation in defending its elections laws in the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal.
Represented and successfully negotiated a resolution to a provincial offences proceeding as a result of a workplace injury for a large local retail client in a matter concerning the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Represented an Indigenous Health Organization in successfully advancing a motion for partial summary judgment against a defendant in a fraud claim.
Represented and successfully negotiated on behalf of a First Nation a resolution to a breach of the duty to consult and accommodate judicial review proceeding against the Ontario Government and a transmission line company.
Represented a group of trustees in an Application to the Superior Court of Justice for an interpretation and direction of a First Nation settlement trust fund agreement.
Represented a First Nation before the Ontario Energy Board in the leave to construction proceedings concerning the construction of the East-West Tie transmission line project in Northern Ontario.
Represented Indigenous forestry contractors in their claims for liens over timber that they harvested and delivered to an insolvent paper mill in Northern Ontario.
Represented a First Nation in its proceeding before the Federal Court to compel the Government of Canada and its third party funding manager to produce the First Nation’s financial records.
Represented a First Nation couple in obtaining a stay of provincial offence proceedings against them on the basis that the Ontario Government’s “Sundown” incidental cabin use policy unjustifiably infringed their Aboriginal and Treaty rights.