Anja Brown

Associate, Mandell Pinder LLP

Phone: 604.566.8564
anja@mandellpinder.com

Assistant: Monica Shackelly | monica@mandellpinder.com


Profile

Anja Brown joined Mandell Pinder LLP in January, 2009. Since her call to the British Columbia Bar in 1998, Anja has had her own law firm operating out of her home in Bella Bella, and then in 2000, joined a small firm in West Vancouver with a primarily First Nations clientele. Over the years, Anja has gained a broad range of legal experience, including aboriginal rights, First Nations governance, child protection and criminal law. The application of aboriginal restorative justice principles as a means to resolve fisheries and criminal matters is of particular interest to Anja. Anja has also represented many residential school survivors in the Independent Assessment Process, which is an alternative to court for the resolution of abuse claims.

Since 1998, Anja has been a member of the Bella Bella/Bella Coola circuit court team. The continuity of the members of the court team over the years has, in Anja’s opinion, enhanced the ability to help deliver justice in a way that is more responsive to community values. During circuit court, Anja has the opportunity to act on both criminal and family law matters.

Anja has appeared at all levels of court; her career highlights so far include being part of the team of lawyers who appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada in support of the Haida and Taku River First Nations in 2004 (Haida Nation v. British Columbia (Minister of Forests), [2004] 3 S.C.R. 511, 2004 SCC 73; Taku River Tlingit First Nation v. British Columbia (Project Assessment Director), [2004] 3 S.C.R. 550, 2004 SCC 74) and again in 2007 on behalf of the Tseshaht First Nation in Regina v. Kapp, 2008 SCC 41. In October, 2008, Anja appeared in the B.C. Court of Appeal as one of seven intervenors in McIvor v. Canada (Registrar of Indian and Northern Affairs), 2009 BCCA 153, which considered discriminatory sections of the Indian Act.

In Anja is a member of the Heiltsuk Nation and is adopted into the Hunt, Martin and White families. She has been honoured with the Heiltsuk names Habukvas Qvaxacu and Thawiniqs. Anja is the mother of two children and has many treasured nieces and nephews.


Education

LL.B University of British Columbia, 1997
   
B.A. Simon Fraser University, 1982 (Archaeology major/Biology minor)

 

Professional Standing

Member, Law Society of B.C. (1998)


Appointment

Tsawwassen First Nation Judicial Council,  Member (appointed April 3, 2009)


Selected Publications

Aboriginal Young Offenders; with Gloria Morgan, Continuing Legal Education Aboriginal Law & Practice Project, 2002-2007.

"Update on Aboriginal Fishing Rights - Is there Common Ground for First Nations and Government?”; (2005) paper presented to the 7th Annual Aboriginal Land and Resource Management Conference; Insight.


Other Activities

Member of the Board of Directors of the Scow Institute for Communicating Information on Aboriginal Issues, 2005 to present.

Access Pro Bono

U.B.C. adjunct professor

In her life outside the legal world, Anja loves reading, music, movies and dining out with family and friends.