Stephen Mussell
Associate

Stephen Mussell

Stephen is Michif (Métis) and a citizen of the Manitoba Métis Federation. His mother’s family hails from mikisiw wacîhk (the Eagle Hills), Duck Lake, and northeastern British Columbia (Pouce Coupe/Progress). His father’s family hails from the historic Métis community located in the Red River Valley, Manitoba.

Stephen is committed to using his western legal education and his belief in the inherent weight and force of Indigenous legal orders to bring about transformational change. His practice focuses on advancing the legal rights of Indigenous peoples and supporting Indigenous peoples in exercising their right to self-determination. Stephen is driven by a desire to continue the good work of those who came before him, and to leave a better world for future generations.

Legal Administrative Assistant
Ceara Tracey
604.681.4146 ext. 222 ceara@mandellpinder.com

Profile

Stephen joined Mandell Pinder LLP as an articling student in 2015, and became an associate with the firm and was called to the bar in British Columbia in 2016. He left Mandell Pinder for a short time to return to his Homelands, Treaty 4 Territory and the Homelands of the Métis Nation, and was called to the bar in Saskatchewan in 2021. Stephen re-joined Mandell Pinder in May 2022 and works remotely from oskana kâ-asastêki (Regina, SK).

J.D., Aboriginal Law Specialization, University of British Columbia, (2015)

Completed three years of the Bachelor of Human Kinetics program, University of British Columbia Okanagan

Sat on First Nations Election Appeal Boards, took part in oral hearings, and drafted related decisions.

Assisted with drafting and negotiating the Fraser Salmon Collaborative Governance and Management Agreement.

Conducted community consultation and drafted various custom election codes, membership codes, and governing policies.

Conducted deep community engagement and drafted revisions to the Constitution of a self-governing First Nation.

Member, Law Society of British Columbia

Member, Law Society of Saskatchewan

Member, Canadian Bar Association

Member, Indigenous Bar Association

Collaboration with Audie Murray featured in “Owning Ourselves Zine”, published by The Mamawi Project and Red River Echoes, Spring 2022.

“Paashikoo: Connecting Métis Art & Law”, presented with Audie Murray and Jessie Ray Short at Mawachihitotaak: Métis Studies Symposium, May 2022.

“Indigenous Self-Determination in the Era of COVID-19”, published in BarNotes Magazine, May 2022.

“Indigenous Law and Aboriginal Law: We Must all Understand the Difference”, published in BarNotes Magazine, December 2021.

“Indigenous Law vs. Aboriginal Law: A Brief History of ‘Legal’ Land Theft”, presented at talk hosted by The Mamawi Project, November 2021.

“In Defence of the Integrity of our Nation: Métis Colonialism West of the Rocky Mountains”, published by Yellowhead Institute, April 2021,

“Do Métis have Rights in British Columbia? Let our Métis People be heard in a Good Way”, published by Yellowhead Institute, October 2020.

“Let our Métis People be heard in a Good Way”, published by Vancouver Sun, October 2020.

“Indigenous Law vs. Aboriginal Law: A Brief History of ‘Legal’ Land Theft”, presented at talk hosted by the Carnegie Centre Action Project, March 2020.

Presented on Indigenous homelessness with Anna Cooper at UBC Indigenous Law Students’ Association seminar, February 2019.

Presented with Kris Statnyk at Understanding and Implementing the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Conference, hosted by PBLI, June 2018.

Chair, Pivot Legal Society

Indigenous Representative, CBA SK Branch

Member, BarNotes Editorial Board

Member, Law Society of SK Equity & Access Committee

Member, Law Society of SK Truth & Reconciliation Advisory Group

Practice Areas