Our Mission
At Luminous Law, our vision is deeply rooted
in advancing First Nations development
We prioritize listening to our clients and understanding their unique objectives, empowering them to achieve their goals in a manner that resonates with their own values, customs, and aspirations.
We are dedicated to fostering positive, meaningful, and enduring transformations within First Nations communities, driving forward growth and prosperity.
Our commitment extends to actively supporting capacity-building initiatives within Indigenous communities. Whether through education and training, cultural revitalization initiatives, economic development, or partnership development, we aim to empower individuals and communities to unlock their full potential and thrive.
Maya assists First Nations with their unique needs, and partners with legal experts in several fields in order to provide tailored and cost-effective legal services to her clients.
Maya
Duvage
Maya launched Luminous Law Corporation after six years of practice at Aboriginal and small business firms in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Maya studied law from an international law lens at the University of Nottingham, in the United Kingdom. Her honours thesis focused on comparative government and industry approaches to Aboriginal consultation in the natural resources sector. Maya’s research critically analysed these practices against the standards outlined in the Universal Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and industry best practices such as corporate social responsibility policies.
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Maya is deeply committed to advocating for the recognition and protection of Indigenous sovereignty. She is passionate about empowering Indigenous communities to achieve their objectives through self-governance and economic development. Maya holds a special interest in advocating for Indigenous jurisdiction in emerging industries, such as gaming and cannabis.
Beyond her legal practice, Maya has worked in Japan and has volunteered for human rights watchdogs monitoring Canadian and international abuses of human rights. Maya’s upbringing in the Treaty and Traditional Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the Huron-Wendat and Wyandot Nations has deeply influenced her perspective. Today, she resides in the territories of the xÊ·mÉ™θkÊ·É™yÌ“É™m (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sÉ™lilwÉ™taɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples, in the area known as Vancouver, British Columbia.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Maya finds joy in staying active, practicing mindfulness, and reconnecting with her spiritual and ancestral roots. She has a profound appreciation for animals and enjoys immersing herself in the study of languages.
Practice Highlights
BC First Nations Gaming Revenue Sharing | September 2020
Maya was an integral part of the legal team that prepared the landmark British Columbia First Nations Gaming Revenue Sharing and Financial Agreement, a 25-year agreement that flows 7% of BC Lottery Corporation revenues to First Nations in British Columbia. This agreement was brought about by three decades of tireless advocacy by British Columbia First Nations leaders.
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$74 Million Grant | April 2022
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Maya supported the legal team that successfully negotiated a $74 million grant from the Provincial Government of British Columbia to be distributed to all BC First Nations to compensate for lost gaming revenues during the COVID-19 pandemic. The success of these negotiations held the government to account to honour the intent of its agreements with First Nations, even amidst unprecedented challenges.
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Land Back Agreement for Reconciliation Park and Commercial Residential Development | July 2021
Completed the first ever tripartite ‘reconciliation agreement’ among the Province of British Columbia, a society of three First Nations and a municipality in the Fraser Valley. The agreement saw the return of 69 hectares of land to the Nations. The majority of the land will be leased back to the municipality for 99 years for operation as a ‘reconciliation park’, and the remainder will be developed for commercial and residential use, generating economic benefit for the collective membership of the Nations. This landmark agreement showcases the flexibility and effectiveness of tailored negotiations, proving that First Nations are not bound by traditional Treaty Processes and can shape agreements to align with their specific objectives.
Education
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Member, Law Society of British Columbia, 2017
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LL. B. (Hons) University of Nottingham, 2013
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B.A. (Hons) McGill University, 2010
Our Namesake
and Logo
The name “luminous” was inspired by the iridescent patterning of the shell of the Northern Abalone, an endangered mollusc found on the Pacific North Coast. Early on in her career, Maya supported a Coastal First Nation striving to protect abalone and other affected marine life, as environmental changes brought about by climate change, recreational settler use, invasive species and illegal harvesting threatened to eliminate them.
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The unwavering effort to protect and rejuvenate abalone and other sea life on whose populations support the food, social and ceremonial ways of Coastal First Nations represents the courage shown by community leadership that inspires Maya’s approach.
The Luminous Law Corporation logo portrays an animist radiating sun, cradled by a crescent moon. Symbolizing enlightenment and harmony with our natural environment, the sun and moon embody the illumination of our surroundings.
Often, faced with seemingly immovable governments and systems, change seems impossible. The light reminds us to have hope in forging our way forward.
Drawing inspiration from the vibrant hues of a British Columbia sunset, the logo comes alive with shades of purple, orange, and yellow.
The logo was designed by Charlene Johnny, a Cowichan Tribe artist specializing in a variety of media including murals, digital media and jewellery.