Who We Are

Started this whole operation with basically nothing but determination and a decent understanding of northern issues. Rented a tiny office above the hardware store - you could hear the cash register ringing through the floor.

That first client, Thomas, was a trapper facing eviction from his trapline because a mining company claimed they had rights to the area. Took us six months, but we proved his family's traditional use predated any claims. He still sends us fish every summer.

Looking back, we had no idea what we were getting into. But sometimes that's the best way to start something.

This case put us on the map. Three communities came together to challenge restrictions on their treaty harvesting rights. The government argued modern regulations superseded old treaties. We argued otherwise - successfully.

The ruling affirmed that treaty rights aren't frozen in time; they evolve with communities but remain protected. It's been cited in dozens of cases since.

The celebration feast lasted three days. Pretty sure I gained ten pounds eating caribou and bannock. Worth it.

Met Sarah at a legal conference in Inuvik. She was presenting on Arctic maritime law and I realized we needed her expertise badly. Took about six months of convincing, but she finally agreed to join as partner.

Her connections in Inuvialuit communities opened up whole new areas of practice for us. Suddenly we were handling complex shipping disputes, transportation law, and offshore resource issues.

Best business decision I ever made, hands down.

A defunct mine had left contamination across traditional lands. The company said it wasn't their problem - they'd followed regulations at the time. We proved negligence and secured not just compensation but actual environmental remediation.

The money helped families affected, but seeing actual cleanup crews show up? That meant more. Last I heard, fish populations are recovering and people are hunting in those areas again.

This is why we do this work. Not for awards or recognition, but to see real change on the ground.