Legal Support Program
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Our Mandate
The Legal Division of EAGLE is mandated to provide assistance and representation to Aboriginal Peoples and Aboriginal organizations that desire to protect their lands, waters and resources from unsustainable or harmful developments and/or activities. The Legal Division offers support in the protection of Aboriginal and Treaty Rights and the environment through a number of means than include:
- Conducting legal research
- Providing legal opinions and advice
- Conducting legal responses
- Seeking intervener status
- Direct representation in regulatory body matters
- Co-representation in litigation
- Direct representation in litigation
- Assistance to First Nations' Governments
The range of environmental activities and issues that we directly support includes oil and gas developments, other types of energy related matters, water rights, forests, mining, sacred sites, fishing, and toxins.
Our staff of legal professionals includes practising lawyers who are well versed in both Aboriginal law and environmental law and are all members in good standing of the Law Society of British Columbia.
Our Accomplishments to Date
Our most significant success to date has been the decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in Haida Nation v. British Columbia, where the court held that the Crown has legally enforceable obligations to consult and accommodate Aboriginal Peoples whenever contemplating a decision or course of action that could have a negative impact on Aboriginal Title and Rights.