2026 Kawaskimhon National Aboriginal Law Moot team. From left to right: Dawn Johnson (MP); Luka Poljak (UBC); Molly McVean (UBC); Morgan Green (UBC); Isabella Schopper (UBC); Professor Scott Franks (UBC).
Mandell Pinder LLP was proud to once again sponsor and coach the UBC Allard Law moot teams for the 2026 Kawaskimhon National Aboriginal Law Moot, which took place on March 13-14 at the University of Windsor on the traditional and ancestral territories of the Anishinaabe Peoples of the Three Fires Confederacy of First Nations. Allard Law students Morgan Green, Isabella Schopper, Molly McVean, and Luka Poljak represented UBC, supported by coaches Stephen Mussell and Dawn Johnson, associates from Mandell Pinder LLP, and Allard Law Professor Scott Franks. Morgan, Isabella, Molly, and Luka engaged deeply and thoughtfully on the issues, and were great representatives of UBC and their hypothetical clients.
Now in its 33rd year, the Kawaskimhon Moot is a consensus-based, non-adversarial moot that focuses on Indigenous legal issues and Aboriginal law. Students participate in roundtable negotiations representing their assigned parties, and work to resolve legal disputes incorporating Indigenous legal orders alongside federal, provincial, and international law. This year’s moot saw 29 different teams, represented by law students from law schools across the country. The moot problem required the students engage with the federal Building Canada Act and related provincial fast-tracking legislation, and to consider how Indigenous consultation processes can move beyond procedural compliance towards processes that are grounded in Nation-to-Nation relationships and uphold and respect the inherent and Aboriginal rights of First Nations.
We extend our gratitude to Elder Myrna Kicknosway for welcoming us and holding the sacred space, and to Professors Dr. Janice Makosis and Syvia McAdam for their work in organizing and hosting the Kawaskimhon Moot at Windsor Law. We also congratulate Morgan, Isabella, Molly, and Luka for all of their hard work and thoughtful engagement in the topics, and their strong representation of UBC at the moot.