Expert on Indigenous systems of governance

With reference to the Coastal GasLink pipeline in BC, the following University of Victoria expert is available to media to explain some of the nuances around Indigenous systems of law and governance: 

Val Napoleon is an expert in Indigenous law and is co-founder and director of the world’s first joint degree program in Canadian Common Law and Indigenous Legal Orders at UVic, and is the director of the Indigenous Law Research Unit. 

She can discuss the “oversimplified dichotomy between hereditary chiefs and elected band councils,” Indigenous legalities and lawfulness, legal processes, and possible strategies for rebuilding Indigenous law for a productive multi-juridical Canada. 

She is available on very limited basis.  (Office: 250-721-8172 or napoleon@uvic.ca also cc’ing sahearne@uvic.ca)