Mitchell Couling

Lawyer

Email: mitchell@woodwardandcompany.com

Assistant: Maryse Pelletier | maryse@woodwardandcompany.com

Profile

Mitchell’s commitment is to facilitate First Nation communities in gaining control of their land and resources, and protect the environmental integrity of their landbase. He represents First Nations with respect to their Aboriginal rights and title, Treaty rights, and the Crown’s duty of consultation and accommodation. Mitchell’s practice includes Aboriginal governance, taxation and economic development; as well as, the negotiation and drafting of various agreements (commercial, accommodation and impact benefit), and on reserve land management.

Mitchell began his law career at Woodward as student and was called to the British Columbia Bar in 2001. Mitchell was a member of the litigation team for the Xeni Gwet’in and Tsilhqot’in Nation in their historic Aboriginal title and rights claim, Tsilhqot’in Nation v. British Columbia, the only Aboriginal title case in B.C. to finish trial since Delgamuukw.

Mitchell has a Bachelor of Science degree and a Post-Baccalaureate Environmental Science Diploma (Honors). Prior to his law career, Mitchell worked as a Project Biologist and an Environmental Technician.


Professional Standing:

Member, Law Society of B.C.
Member, Law Society of Alberta
Member Law Society of Yukon
Member and Former Treasurer, Aboriginal Law Subsection, Vancouver Island, Cdn. Bar Assoc. (B.C.)

Awards:

The Chris Considine Prize in Evidence Law (University of Victoria Faculty of Law, 1998)

Selected Cases, Publications, Papers & Presentations:

Tsilhqot'in Nation v. British Columbia, 2007 BCSC 1700 (leave to appeal granted,
2009 BCCA 83) (the Tsilhqot’in Nation Aboriginal title and rights trial judgment)

“Unique Aspects of the Management of Aboriginal Estates” co-authored with John W. Gailus, presented to the CBA Wills and Trust Subsection

British Columbia Oil and Gas Commission decision rejecting an exploratory Oil Well Permit. Mitchell represented a First Nation in this decision resulting in the first ever rejection of an exploratory well permit on the basis that the proposed project would have irreversible and detrimental effects on the historical, cultural and sacred relationship of the people of the First Nation with the land.

Other Activities:

Mitch enjoys hiking, camping, playing softball and SCUBA diving.