Stephen Mussell
Stephen is Michif (Métis) and a citizen of the Manitoba Métis Federation. Among others, his mother Constance Mussell’s (née Waldo) family is descended from the Brown, Whitford, Price, Spence, and Cook families, and his father Michael Mussell’s family is descended from the Klyne, LaFrance, Cyr, and Nolin families.
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.
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
“Powley, Rights Recognition, and the Rise of “Métis Denialism”: A Métis Response to First Nations’ Calls for Accountability”, published by Yellowhead Institute, December 2023.
“R v Powley and the rise of “Métis Denialism”, published by CBABC Aboriginal Lawyers Forum, November 2023.
Co-chaired and presented at Aboriginal Law Conference, hosted by CLEBC, September 2023.
Co-chaired and presented at Implementing UNDRIP and Reaffirming Indigenous Rights to Self-Determination Conference, hosted by PBLI, September 2023.
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.
Co-Chair, Reconciliation Committee, CBA SK Branch
Member, BarNotes Editorial Board
Member, Law Society of SK Equity & Access Committee
Member, Law Society of SK Truth & Reconciliation Advisory Group
Past Chair, Pivot Legal Society