Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP

06/17/2026

📢The latest episode of the OKT Podcast is now live!

In this episode, OKT Partners Larry Innes, Krista Nerland, and Associate Jesse Abell, provide insights on the British Columbia Court of Appeal’s decision in Gitxaala v British Columbia (Chief Gold Commissioner), 2025 BCCA 430, and what to watch now that the appeal is going to be heard by the Supreme Court of Canada.

Click on the link below to listen to this informative Podcast.
https://www.oktlaw.com/okt-podcast-gitxaala-v-british-columbia/

06/05/2026

We’re thrilled to welcome back HyunGu Kang, returning to OKT as an Associate in our Toronto office!

05/29/2026

On March 30, 2026, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (the “Tribunal”) approved the Final Agreement on Long‑Term Reform of the First Nations Child and Family Services Program in Ontario (the Ontario Final Agreement, or the “OFA”). Today, that historic agreement officially comes into force.

Visit OKT Law to read the full blog post.

05/15/2026

Yesterday, James Shields spoke with CBC’s Tara McCarthy regarding the Alberta Court of King's Bench judge who has quashed the approval of a petition seeking a referendum on Alberta independence.

Visit OKT Law website to listen to the interview and learn more.

05/15/2026

OKT is thrilled that the Alberta Court of King’s Bench sided with Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and put an end to this divisive and unconstitutional referendum on Alberta separation. We are proud to have represented ACFN in this case, and, while the Government has made clear it intends to appeal the decision, we look forward to continuing this fight.

Visit OKT Law website to learn more.

05/15/2026

OKT is thrilled that the Alberta Court of King’s Bench sided with Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and put an end to this divisive and unconstitutional referendum on Alberta separation. We are proud to have represented ACFN in this case, and, while the Government has made clear it intends to appeal the decision, we look forward to continuing this fight.

Click on the link below to learn more.

The ruling comes after a group leading a petition for Alberta independence said it had gathered enough signatures to trigger a province-wide vote.

05/15/2026

OKT is thrilled that the Alberta Court of King’s Bench sided with Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and put an end to this divisive and unconstitutional referendum on Alberta separation. We are proud to have represented ACFN in this case, and, while the Government has made clear it intends to appeal the decision, we look forward to continuing this fight.

Click on the link to below to learn more.

The ruling comes after a group leading a petition for Alberta independence said it had gathered enough signatures to trigger a province-wide vote.

05/08/2026

On May 5th, 2026, Saugeen First Nation reclaimed something taken from them twice: first by colonial dispossession, and again in November 2022 when a property owner bulldozed an irreplaceable ancestral and burial site without warning, without permits, and without any of the legal protections that exist precisely to prevent this kind of harm. At a sentencing hearing held at Saugeen First Nation, an Ontario court confirmed the resolution of a prosecution about that archaeological site disturbance, including the return of the land to the First Nation. Ownership and the ability to protect one of Canada’s most significant archaeological sites is now back where it belongs.

Click on the link below to read the full blog post by authors Cathy Guirguis, Lorraine Land, and Mileva Boghosian.

https://www.oktlaw.com/nebwaakah-giizwed-ziibi-a-significant-ancestral-site-returned-to-saugeen-first-nation/