Real Estate Development on First Nation Lands 2026
November 25 and 26, 2026 at 9:00AM PDT
Downtown Vancouver and Live Webinar
Real Estate Development on First Nation Lands 2026
November 25 and 26, 2026
Overview
Developing real estate on First Nation lands presents unique challenges and opportunities. This comprehensive forum assembles expert faculty, from a variety of perspectives, with extensive experience dealing with real estate development on First Nation lands. They will review the various legal processes, offer insights on negotiations, and highlight the practical considerations and key elements of successful projects.
Key Areas Addressed:
Overview of different types of First Nations lands and jurisdictions
Headleases and subleases
Real estate valuation on First Nations lands
Structuring the deal and the relationship
First Nation and municipal relationships
Update on the New Land Code Registry - the First Nations Land Governance Registry
Conveyancing of First Nation land
Financing the project on First Nation land
Case study - TBA
This Forum is Designed For:
First Nations leaders and officials
First Nations development companies
Municipal officials, managers, planners and lawyers
Federal and provincial officials involved in the development of reserve lands
Real estate developers and resource companies
Lawyers and in-house resource company counsel
Professionals in the utilities, banking, and real estate development industries
Consultation and treaty negotiators
Lawyers, accountants and other advisors acting for First Nations and/or developers
Agenda
Day One - November 25, 2026
9:00 - Welcome and Introduction by PBLI
9:05 - Chairs’ Welcome and Introduction
Andrea East
Pushor Mitchell LLP
Jennifer Williams
MLT Aikins
9:15 - Overview of Different Types of First Nations Lands and Jurisdictions
Emma Grolla
Farris LLP
Indian Act land regime
Land codes
Self-government
Modern treaty lands
Fee simple lands pursuant to Reconciliation Agreements
10:15 - Questions and Discussion
10:30 - Refreshment Adjournment
10:50 - Headleases and Subleases
Andrea East
Pushor Mitchell LLP
Common headlease structures
- ISC’s current leases
- Other lease structures
- Review of some of the structures for headleases in older projects
Subleases
- Provisions for a strata-style subleases with common costs for common property
- Other sublease structures
CMHC Considerations
Stand-alone leases
11:50 - Questions and Discussion
12:00 - Networking Lunch
1:00 - Real Estate Valuation on First Nations Lands
1:50 - Questions and Discussion
2:00 - Refreshment Adjournment
2:15 - Structuring the Deal and the Relationship
Jennifer Williams
MLT Aikins
Jared Knott
MLT Aikins
Options and considerations for key issues, including:
- Parties and roles – including partnership models
- Development agreements
- Head leases, sub-leases and associated tenures
- Financing
- Servicing and infrastructure
3:05 - Questions and Discussion
3:15 - First Nation and Municipal Relationships
Alana DeGrave
Woodward & Company LLP
Candace Charlie
Woodward & Company LLP
Legal obligations
Reconciliation and relationship building
Servicing agreements
Land use planning, zoning and bylaws
Property tax sharing agreements
4:15 - Questions and Discussion
4:25 - Chairs’ Closing Remarks for Day One
4:30 - Forum Concludes for Day One
Day Two - November 26, 2026
9:00 - Welcome and Reflections on Day One
Andrea East
Pushor Mitchell LLP
Jennifer Williams
MLT Aikins
9:10 - Update on the New Land Code Registry - The First Nations Land Governance Registry
Angie Derrickson
First Nations Land Governance Registry
Framework and legislative regime
Registry for land code and self-governing First Nations
Design and development
Demonstration of the platform
Stakeholder feedback
Technical Issues
How will communal lands be registered?
What will a title report look like?
Timing of registration – Pending /Final
10:15 - Questions and Discussion
10:25 - Refreshment Adjournment
10:40 - Conveyancing of First Nation Land
Where to register
How to register
Documents required
Timing
Unique issues in conveying First Nation lands
11:45 - Questions and Discussion
12:00 - Networking Lunch
1:00 - Financing the Project on First Nation Land
Margot McMillan
MCM Law LLP
The process of putting the financing in place
Securing the loan
Servicing the debt
Are guarantees required?
Other sources of funding
1:55 - Questions and Discussion
2:05 - Refreshment Adjournment
2:15 - Case Study - TBA
3:15 - Questions and Discussion
3:25 - Chairs’ Closing Remarks
3:30 - Forum Concludes
Meet the Co-Chairs
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Partner, Pushor Mitchell LLP
As a business lawyer, Andrea loves the challenge of guiding her clients through complex commercial transactions and real estate projects, and she strives for excellence with every task. Andrea has previously acted as in-house counsel at a private corporation and a public body, experiences that provide insight into her clients’ perspectives. She frequently helps First Nations and the organizations that do business with them to navigate the regulatory systems governing their economic and real estate development projects.
Andrea believes that clarity is the key to good legal service. She focuses on clear drafting in each contract she develops, and has extensive experience in drafting commercial contracts for unique transactions. She helps each client to fully grasp the processes and legal issues they face by giving clear, practical advice and making complex projects and developments more understandable.
After earning her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of British Columbia (during which time she received the Prize in Conflicts Law for academic achievement in private international law), Andrea worked as a Judicial Law Clerk for the British Columbia Supreme Court, and became a lawyer in 2004. She belongs to the Kelowna Bar Association.
Andrea attended high school in Kelowna and returned here after university. Showing her commitment to the community – from buying local whenever possible to supporting local business owners, artists and producers – is very important to her. Andrea is a member of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Westside Board of Trade (where she proudly served a term as a director), and the Urban Development Institute.
Both in and outside her working life, Andrea strives for a job well done. She works hard to give the best of herself to her clients, her volunteerism, and the family she adores: her husband and children. She enjoys spending time at the lake and exploring the beautiful Okanagan with her family.
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Partner, MLT Aikins
Jennifer is a commercial real estate and development lawyer who advises on acquisitions, dispositions, commercial leasing, financing and Indigenous land development, with particular experience in complex development projects and transactions involving First Nations lands.
Services provided by Jennifer M. Williams Law Corporation.
Jennifer has more than two decades of experience practising commercial real estate and development, real estate transactions, commercial leasing, lending, construction and Indigenous real estate.
Development
Ownership structures including REITs, Limited Partnerships and Trusts
Acquisition and disposition of development sites including land assemblies, partially completed projects
Development of air space parceled mixed-use towers, with educational, retail, commercial and residential shopping centres and purpose rental projects
Conventional and air space subdivisions for residential, industrial and commercial projects, as well as leasehold stratas and developments on First Nations lands
Strata/condominium matters, including mixed-use structures and challenges such as common facility uses, cost-sharing and phasing
Municipal matters including advising on approvals and permits, drafting and negotiating a wide range of covenants, easements and land title encumbrances
Uniquely challenging development transactions including strata conversions, collapse of stratas and co-ownership properties, fractional interests and distressed properties
Disclosure statements for phased, fractional, timeshare and conventional/bare-land strata sales.
Project closing plans including conveyance of completed development lots or interests
Real estate transactions
Purchase, sale and leasebacks of a wide range of assets including commercial complexes, air space parceled mixed use towers, with educational, retail, commercial and residential shopping centres
Transactions involving Land Codes, i.e. acquisition of industrial lands from First Nations including Leq’a:mel First Nation pursuant to long-term ground leases
Unique acquisitions such as acting for developers in taking distressed projects out of CCAA.
Complex titles such as consolidating time shares, strata conversions, collapsing stratas and land assemblies
Corporate commercial law, including limited partnership agreements and deal structures as relating to real estate transactions including REITs
Land Owner Transparency Act filings of Declarations and Reports for complex structures
Commercial leasing
Acting for tenants and sublandlords for Indigenous land subject to Land Codes with respect to long-term ground leases from CP holders and other stakeholders
Acting for landlords, tenants, property managers with respect to complex lease transactions for a diverse portfolio or retail, commercial, industrial and resort properties
Negotiation and drafting of complex commercial lease documents including letters of intent, leases, modifications, renewals and lender non-disturbance agreements
Large-scale ground leases, leasebacks of major assets including office towers, residential towers and mixed-use projects
Day-to-day advice regarding lease administration, lease interpretation, lease workouts and enforcement matters
Lending
Construction and general financing for borrowers and a diverse range of lenders from major institutional lenders to mortgage investment corporations and private lenders
Private lending on complicated private loan structures and fundings
Acting for borrowers, institutional on secured debt financings, construction lending, asset-based lending, lease financing, real estate backed financing, including CMHC-backed loans such as the MLI Flex finance program for market rental projects
Real estate-based financing transactions including construction and project financing
Construction
Acting primarily for developers, builders and owners in negotiating and administering construction
Management, general contracting and subcontract agreements including CCDC agreements and associated supplemental conditions, and contracts with various consultants including architects and engineers
Indigenous real estate
Complex developments on Indigenous lands including those subject to Land Code
Partnerships and joint ventures with Indigenous communities and Indigenous owned business corporations for development of a wide range of projects including residential, mixed use, industrial, modular and recreational sites
Leasing of Indigenous Lands to third party users including for industrial, recreational and residential use
Acquisition and sale of long term leases from CP Holders and other Indigenous stakeholders and Indigenous-owned business corporations
Corporate matters for housing corporations and homeowner associations for developments situated on Indigenous-leased lands
Meet the Faculty
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Partner, Woodward & Company LLP
As a Partner at Woodward and Company, Alana’s solicitor work spans lands, reserve, and treaty implementation issues. Within this, her practice focuses on reconciling the systemic injustices that often affect First Nations, particularly when it comes to their rights to their traditional lands.
Originally from Winnipeg, Alana took an undergrad in psychology back in her home city. Her educational background in both psychological and sociological studies motivated her to pursue justice and truth from an early stage- and would eventually lead her to study law at the University of Victoria.
Now with more than a decade of experience with Woodward and Company, Alana has contributed to a number of significant cases, including the groundbreaking Tsilhqot’in Aboriginal Title case. Her results-oriented work ethic combined with her trustworthiness- both as legal counsel and a colleague- provide a strong basis for her characteristically high quality work.
Both reliable and a careful listener, Alana’s work is deeply motivated by the will to empower First Nations to make their own decisions. Through her extensive legal experience and commitment to relationship building, her work seeks to bridge the gap between the government, Indigenous peoples, and communities that they are a part of.
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Lawyer, Woodward & Company LLP
As one of Woodward and Company’s lawyers, Candace’s work focuses on Aboriginal rights and title, environmental assessments, and lands and resource governance. Her greatest motivation is to help change Indigenous peoples’ experiences in and with the colonial legal system, including recent work on the Quw’utsun Nation’s Legal Victory for Recognition of Title at Tl’uqtinus Village Lands and Aboriginal Right to Fish.
Candace is a Cowichan Tribes member from the Kwa’mutsun (Quamichan) village. She was born and raised in Quw’utsun territory, on Cowichan Indian Reserve #1. After graduating high school, she attended the UBC Faculty of Music as a pianist and vocal major, later returning to Kwantlen Polytechnic University where she pursued an undergraduate degree in Sustainability Policy Studies. She attended the University of Saskatchewan’s Program of Legal Studies for Native People in 2017. She completed her law degree at the University of Victoria in December 2021, where she received multiple academic awards including Cowichan Tribes Academic Achievement Award (2014); Arthur Rhodes Scholarship for Outstanding Graduate of the Program of Legal Studies for Native People (2017); University of Victoria Faculty of Law Access Bursary (2018); Blakes Scholar Award (2019); Honourable Mention, First Peoples Law Indigenous Law Student Scholarship Award (2020); and Blakes Scholar Award (2020).
Prior to serving as one of the firm’s lawyers, Candace worked for Cowichan Tribes’ Lulumexun Lands & Governance Department from 2015-2021, where she worked as Referrals/Crown Consultation Coordinator, Land Code Coordinator, and Matrimonial Real Property Law Coordinator. Having previously articled at the firm as a student, Candace returned to join Woodward and Company as a lawyer in early 2023 after she became a member of the B.C. Bar.
Throughout the course of her work, Candace seeks to create space in the legal sphere for Indigenous peoples to govern themselves, their territories, and their relations with all living beings according to their own sacred directives, as unencumbered by colonial interests as is possible.
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Registrar/CEO, First Nation Land Governance Registry
Angie Derrickson is a proud member of Westbank First Nation, located in the Syilx Okanagan territory in southern British Columbia.
After graduating in 1992, she started her career at Westbank First Nation working in Administration, Intergovernmental Affairs and then Senior Lands Officer from 2000 to 2010. In 2013, Angie joined the First Nations Land Management Resource Centre and supports strategic approaches for training, mentorship, and professional development for Land Governance across Canada.
Driven by her dedication to her community, Angie has actively participated in various governance initiatives and the implementation of the WFN Self‐Government Agreement. In 2022, she was elected to WFN Council and contributes to strategic priorities under WFN’s unique land base, cultural values, and governance structure.
Angie has also achieved her Professional Lands Management Certification at the University of Saskatchewan, Associate Certificate in Training and Facilitation from the Justice Institute of British Columbia and a Professional Certificate in Management & Leadership from Royal Roads University.
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Partner, MCM Law LLP
Margot has extensive experience in complex commercial transactions involving a range of business entities, including limited partnerships, joint ventures, and trusts. She consults regularly on legislation relating to Indigenous land management, taxation, and borrowing. Margot is also able to provide a broad range of legal services and advice to aviation clients regarding the sale, purchase, and financing of aircraft and all matters relating to the Cape Town Convention and International Registry.
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Associate, MLT Aikins
Jared is an associate in the firm’s Vancouver office. He assists Indigenous clients, focusing on Indigenous economic development, including a variety of commercial, environmental and business matters. Jared also maintains a general commercial real estate practice.
Jared is Cree-Métis and is a member of the Kelly Lake Cree Nation. Jared maintains a robust general commercial real estate practice. He also routinely advises First Nations and Métis communities on a wide range of commercial and environmental matters; major project environmental assessments and negotiations; First Nations governance and general business matters.
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Counsel, Farris LLP
Emma is a real estate lawyer with a wide range of experience, including major projects and financings, infrastructure development, acquisitions and dispositions, partnerships, subdivisions, real estate development and leasing. Her clients primarily include First Nations, developers and lenders.
The majority of Emma’s practice is the development of reserve and treaty lands. She is experienced in advising First Nations, developers and lenders on leases and other tenures on First Nation land. She also acts for First Nations in connection with economic development matters, including acquisitions, designations, additions to reserve, commercial agreements, financing transactions and law development.
Prior to joining Farris, Emma practiced at a national law firm.
Registration Form
Program:
Real Estate Development on First Nation Lands 2026
Date:
November 25 & 26, 2026
Location:
UBC Robson Square (800 Robson Street - Classroom level), Vancouver, BC
Registration:
The registration fee is $1,665.00 plus GST of $83.25 totaling $1,748.25 for webinar and in-person attendance. Registration fee covers your attendance at the program and electronic materials. In-person attendance includes a catered lunch and refreshments throughout the day.
Early Bird Discount:
Register by October 26, 2026 and receive a $200 discount on the registration fee ($1,465.00 plus GST). Discounts cannot be combined.
Group Discount:
Register four persons from the same organization at the same time and you are entitled to a complimentary fifth registration. Discounts cannot be combined.
If you would like to register a group, please fill out this form and email it to registrations@pbli.com:
Payment:
You may pay by VISA, Mastercard or cheque. Cheques should be made payable to the Pacific Business & Law Institute and mailed to Unit 2-2246 Spruce Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 2P3. Please do not send cheques via courier with signature required.
When and Where:
Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. The program starts at 9:00 a.m. (PDT). UBC Robson Square is located at 800 Robson Street in Vancouver, BC, and our event will take place on the classroom level. Please visit https://robsonsquare.ubc.ca/find-us/ for directions.
Materials:
The faculty will prepare papers and/or other materials explaining many of the points raised during this program. Materials will be distributed electronically. Please contact us at registrations@pbli.com if you are unable to attend the program and wish to purchase a set of materials.
Cancellations/Transfers:
Refunds will be given for cancellations (less a $60.00 administration fee) if notice is received in writing five full business days prior to the program (November 18, 2026). After that time we are unable to refund registration fees. Substitutions will be permitted. We reserve the right to cancel, change or revise the date, faculty, content, availability of webinar or venue and transfer in-person registration to webinar registration for this event.
To register by phone:
Telephone us: 604-730-2500
Your Privacy:
We will keep all information that you provide to us in strict confidence, other than to prepare a delegate list containing your name, title, firm and city for our faculty and the program delegates. We do not share our mailing lists with any non-affiliated organization.
Course Accreditation:
Course Accreditation: Attendance at this course can be listed for up to 11 hours of continuing professional development credits with the Law Societies of BC and Ontario. For practitioners in other jurisdictions, please check your governing body’s CPD requirements.
If you would like to register a group, please fill out this form (DOWNLOAD FORM) and email it to registrations@pbli.com; for individual registration, please continue with form below.