This panel will explore two landmark legal challenges shaping the fu ture of mining in British Columbia. Panellists will examine the Gitxaała Na tion’s case against the province’s mineral tenure regime and the Xatśūll Fi rst Nation’s judicial review of decisions related to the Mount Polley mine disaster. Together\, these cases highlight how First Nations are using the courts to assert jurisdiction\, demand accountability\, and redefine the le gal landscape of resource governance in BC.
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Chief Linda In nes is serving her second term as Chief Councillor of the Gitxaała Nation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts with a minor in Political Science fro m the University of Northern British Columbia and brings over 30 years of e xperience in health\, social work\, and business administration to her lead ership role.
Chief Rhonda Phillips is Kukpi7 (Chief) of Xatśūll First Nation. She holds a Business Administration diploma from the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology and a degree in Business and Abor iginal Economic Development from Simon Fraser University. She has served he r community in leadership and administrative roles\, including as Band Admi nistrator (2009–2013)\, and most recently as Child and Family Transition Ma nager with the Northern Shuswap Tribal Council (2020–2023).
Bev Sellars is a former Chief of the Xatśūll Fir st Nation\, serving from 1987–1993 and 2009–2015. She holds a history degre e from the University of Victoria and a law degree from the University of B ritish Columbia. She is Chair of First Nation Women Advocating for Responsi ble Mining (FNWARM) and author of They Called Me Number One and Price Paid: The Fight for First Nations Survival.
Jessica Clogg is Executive Directo r and Senior Counsel at West Coast Environmental Law. She holds a joint Mas ters in Environmental Studies and law degree from Osgoode Hall\, York Unive rsity\, and is an Ashoka Fellow recognizing her work bridging between Canad ian and Indigenous legal traditions. Named one of Canada’s 25 most influent ial lawyers in 2020\, Jessica co-founded WCEL’s RELAW Program\, which suppo rts Indigenous Nations in revitalizing and applying their laws to care for their territories.’
Learn more at the Peter A Allard School of Law website.
