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Empowering Indigenous voices through compassionate and knowledgeable legal representation

Services

As a sole practitioner based in Vancouver, BC, Maya is committed to providing culturally informed legal support to Indigenous individuals and communities. With a deep respect for Indigenous traditions and values, Maya's services aim to address legal challenges with sensitivity and a focus on justice, equity, and reconciliation. Whether clients need assistance with land rights, governance, or other legal matters, Maya is dedicated to offering thoughtful and effective legal guidance.

First Nations Governance

Laws and Bylaws

  • Constitutions

  • Membership codes

  • Land codes

  • Land and resource management laws 

  • Environmental laws

  • Custom election codes

  • Cultural protocols

  • Nation to Nation and protocols

  • Archaeological and cultural heritage laws
     

Policies

  • Housing

  • Human resources

  • Elections
     

Community Engagement

  • General Meetings 

  • Feedback on specific projects 

  • Workshops
     

Government-to-Government Engagement

  • Federal, provincial, regional and municipal government negotiations

  • Reconciliation Framework Agreement and Reconciliation Agreement negotiation and implementation

  • Land transfers

  • Hydro and cellular network agreements

  • Treaty negotiations and implementation

  • S 35 road regularization 
     

Aboriginal Title and Rights

  • Declaration of Title

  • Section 35 rights protection, consultation and accommodation
     

Lands, Resources, and Marine Management

  • Referrals – environmental, land, archaeological 

  • regulations under the to preserve cultural heritage and sacred sites

  • Indigenous parks 


Historical Research and Writing

  • Investigate potential claims for historical wrongdoing by the Crown

Image by Simon Hurry

Economic Development

Corporate Organization for Indigenous Entities

  • Corporations

  • Partnerships (including limited partnerships and limited liability partnerships)

  • Societies​

 

Natural Resources

  • Industry engagement​

  • Impact Benefit Agreements  

  • Revenue Sharing Agreements

  • Regulatory processes

  • Regulatory tribunals

 

Clean Energy and Food Security

  • Solar power projects

  • Greenhouses

  • Run-of-the-river projects ​

 

Leases and Contracts

  • Commercial leases

  • Certificate of Possession lands​

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Joint Venture Agreements and Revenue Sharing

  • Joint venture agreements

  • Revenue-sharing agreements​

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Relationship Building and Corporate Training

  • Relationship building between First Nations Councils as shareholder representatives and economic development corporations

  • Corporate training for Indigenous Boards of Directors ​

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Grant and Funding Applications

  • Grant applications

  • Funding Applications

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Gaming

  • Advising on the potential impacts and opportunities of Bill S-268: An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Indian Act

  • Drafting and enacting laws governing land-based and online gaming 

  • Establishing on-reserve gaming facilities such as casinos

  • Assisting with set up of on-reserve gaming activities, sports betting and lotteries

  • Assisting with set up of on-reserve charitable gaming, including community bingo

  • Developing online gaming initiatives

  • Negotiating revenue sharing with colonial governments and authorities

  • Advising on the application and requirements of the Long-Term British Columbia First Nations Gaming Revenue Sharing and Financial Agreement of September 2023

  • Supporting First Nations partners of the British Columbia First Nations Gaming Revenue Sharing Limited Partnership in meeting reporting requirements and utilizing revenue shares for community purposes

Image by Francesco
Image by Philipp Pilz

Contract Work and Beyond

Maya offers contract support for legal professionals. With expertise in Aboriginal law, she is open to partnering on cases and projects where her specialized knowledge can enhance outcomes and support clients’ needs. She is available to provide support in the following areas:

  • ​​Legal research

  • Legal drafting

  • Specific Claims support

  • Civil litigation 

  • Employment law

  • Environmental law

  • Administrative and human rights tribunals

  • Immigration law

  • Specific Claims

Maya provides tailored legal support to clients. She partners with legal experts in the following fields to deliver a full suite of services to her clients:

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LUMINOUS LAW

CORPORATION

Vancouver, BC​

maya@luminouslaw.ca​

(778) 952-6292​

I acknowledge with gratitude that I reside on and practice law on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh people. I am mindful of the harms of colonialism and am committed to working to rectify those harms in my daily practice.

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