Patricia Hutchings

Lawyer

Email: pat@woodwardandcompany.com

Assistant: Jamie Zyla | jamie@woodwardandcompany.com

Profile

Patricia Hutchings, called in 1985, has a Masters degree in Law from the University of British Columbia. Her thesis was on Aboriginal law issues. She has appeared at all levels of court, including the BC Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada. She was co-counsel with Jack in the Meares Island case and the Tsilhqot’in case. She has been an instructor at the University of Victoria, Faculty of Law, teaching Legal Research and Writing. Patricia Hutchings is widely regarded as one of the leading advisory counsel in the field of Aboriginal law, and is frequently consulted by other counsel for her advice and experience in this area.

Professional Standing:

Member, Law Society of B.C. and the Canadian Bar Association (1985)

Selected Cases, Publications and Papers:

Tsilhqot'in Nation v. British Columbia, [2007] B.C.J. No. 2465, 2007 BCSC 1700 (leave to appeal granted, 2009 BCCA 83).
Amos v. Canada, [2000] 3 C.N.L.R. 1 (FCA).
Westbank First Nation v. British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority, [1999] S.C.J. No. 38.
Tsawwassen Indian Band v. Delta (City), [1998] 1 C.N.L.R. 290, application for leave to appeal to SCC dismissed.
Opetchesaht Indian Band v. Canada, [1997] S.C.J. No. 50.
MacMillan Bloedel Ltd. v. Mullin et. al., [1985] B.C.J. No. 2355 (CA). (The Meares Island case)
Tsilhqot’in Nation v. British Columbia: Cultural Security and the Promise of Site-Specific Rights, Continuing Legal Education Society Conference on Aboriginal Title, Vancouver, BC, January 18, 2008.
Basic Principles of Drafting Off-Reserve Agreements, Continuing Legal Education Society Conference on Aboriginal Law: Solicitors' Issues, Vancouver, BC, October 16, 2007.
Rejection of the “postage stamp” approach to aboriginal title: The Tsilhqot’in Nation decision, with Jack Woodward and Leigh Anne Baker, Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, January 18, 2008.
Basic principles of drafting off-reserve agreements with First Nations: working with First Nations’ customs and the developing jurisprudence. With Jack Woodward, Heather Mahony and Leigh Anne Baker, Continuing Legal Education Society October 26, 2007.