On November 22, 2024, Mandell Pinder LLP lawyer Kim Webber joined A Chat at the Bar to talk about her practice in Aboriginal law. During the interview, Kim spoke about her experience as a Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw and Coast Salish woman of the K’ómoks First Nation, her education at Peter A. Allard School of Law, and her career.
Growing up on the K’ómoks Reserve, Kim knew at an early age she wanted to have a career in law. She was disappointed in how some lawyers working with K’ómoks would engage with her community, especially when it came to explaining legal processes. Kim realized she needed to learn Canadian law so that she could “translate colonial law in a way that communities could understand.”
Kim majored in economics as an undergrad and took courses in Indigenous studies which further informed her on the historical injustices facing Indigenous Peoples in Canada. In her first year at Allard Law, Kim was the first-year rep for the Indigenous law Students’ Association which began her relationship with an important network of Indigenous colleagues, in particular other Indigenous women who helped her navigate the program. In her third year, Kim gave back to this community by serving as co-president of the Indigenous Law Students’ Association.
When Kim heard Mandell Pinder founder Louise Mandell speak at a course on Aboriginal and treaty rights litigation, she felt she had found the right firm that aligned with her values and goals. Mandell Pinder lawyers mentored Kim at the 2021 Kawaskimhon National Aboriginal rights Moot and she found the team to be a great fit for her due to the women trailblazers of the firm and the women lawyers currently with Mandell Pinder who have “driven and inspired” her.
Kim is passionate about incorporating Indigenous ways of being and knowing into her legal practice. This means sitting with Elders and Knowledge Holders to help them bring their knowledge and Indigenous Law into the colonial law, or to protect Indigenous Law from the colonial system. Overall, it means assisting clients to achieve their goals however she can help.
A Chat at the Bar is a podcast offered by the Career Service Office at Allard Law. The team interviews current Allard Law students and alumni to discuss a range of career-related topics.
Listen to Kim’s full interview on Spotify here.