The University of Victoria is honoured to have the Leaders of the Haida Nation choose this place and time to tell a story that has never before been told in a public forum.  You are invited to witness the Haida story of cultural, political, legal and economic challenges that will be told directly from those who have lived and led the Nation in these important areas. 

Peter Lantin was elected as President of the Haida Nation in December 2012.  We welcome Peter back to the University of Victoria, where he served on the University of Victoria Students’ Society (UVSS) for 2 years in 1996-1997, an experience he credits to launching his career path.  Peter has been the Chairperson for the Gwaii Trust Society, the $100 million dollar trust fund serving the communities of Haida Gwaii that was a direct result of the standoff at Lyell Island in 1985.   Peter co-founded the First Nations Regeneration Fund, an equity fund targeting First Nations who are looking to acquire equity in Independent Power Projects within their traditional territories. Peter also recently was the Chief Operating Officer for TRICorp, an Aboriginal Capital Corporation supporting Aboriginal Entrepreneurs in over 25 communities in the Northwest.  Peter will discuss the cultural values that guide the Nation’s unique approach to building an economy based on principles of sustainability vs. exploitation of resources

Guujaaw is the former President of the Haida Nation (2000-2012) who has worked with the Council of the Haida Nation since its inception. Through his presidency he earned the praise and respect of friends and foes alike as he staunchly fought to protect the rights of his people and integrity of Haida Gwaii through strategic combinations of direction action, alliances, law, negotiations and planning.  Guujaaw will share the political challenges and successes experienced by his people in moving to balance ecological, cultural and economic interests… from conflict to reconciliation. 

Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson of White Raven Law Corporation will outline the legal path the Nation has chosen.  Under her legal guidance the Nation successfully brought the “Haida case” to the Supreme Court of Canada, changing the political and economic dynamics between First Nation’s, industry and the Crown, and has filed the first “Haida Title Case,” which is before the courts providing an incentive to reconciliation. Terri-Lynn has been legal counsel for the Haida Nation throughout the development of the “Kunst’aaguu-Kunst’aayaa Reconciliation” protocol and marine agreements with the Federal Crown. 

The Leadership from the Haida Nation will be sharing their Political and Economic challenges and future opportunities with the University community. More specifically, the presentation will focus on the Haida: (1) reconciliation approach results in economic opportunities, (2) conservation, (3) economic benefits and shared management and (4) cultural values that guide their economic approach (sustainability vs exploitation of resources).

For more information about this event, please visit the UVic Events Calendar.