
Matt Boulton
Lawyer
As a lawyer at Woodward and Company, Matt’s main focus is representing First Nations with respect to asserting and proving their Aboriginal title and rights through litigation and negotiation. Backed by his commitment to working with First Nations to protect Aboriginal and treaty rights, he’s also keenly interested in First Nations governance, law development, and furthering the self-government initiatives of First Nations.
Matt first started working with Woodward and Company in 2010 as a co-op student. He received his law degree from the University of Victoria in 2011 and was called to the British Columbia Bar in August 2012 after completing his articles with Woodward & Company. He graduated with a degree in sociology from the University of Lethbridge in 2007, where he received the Dean’s List Scholarship and graduated with Great Distinction for outstanding academic achievement.
As an articled student, Matt assisted Dominique Nouvet and Jay Nelson with the Tsilhqot’in Nation’s successful injunction application against Taseko Mines Ltd. in the Taseko Mines Ltd. v. Phillips case (2011) which prevented Taseko from conducting further “exploratory work” in Tsilhqot’in territory until adequate consultation had taken place.
Matt is a member and a Director at Large of the CBA Aboriginal Law, Vancouver Island Subsection and regularly volunteers at the Access Pro Bono legal advice clinic in Victoria.
Selected Cases, Presentations & Publications
Cowichan Tribes v. Canada (Attorney General), 2020 BCSC 357
West Moberly First Nations v. British Columbia, 2020 BCCA 138
Cowichan Tribes v. Canada, 2019 BCSC 2199
West Moberly First Nations v. British Columbia, 2018 BCCA 213
William v. British Columbia, 2018 BCSC 1271
William v. British Columbia, 2018 BCSC 1425
West Moberly First Nations v. British Columbia, 2017 BCSC 1700
Cummings v. Nenan Dane Zaa Deh Zona Family Services Society, 2015 BCHRT 116
Métis Nation of Alberta Region 1 v. Joint Review Panel, 2012 ABCA 352
Taseko Mines Ltd. v. Phillips, 2011 BCSC 1675
“Financial Vulnerability Assessment: Who Would Pay for Oil Tanker Spills Associated with the Northern Gateway Pipeline?”, The Living Ocean’s Society, Victoria, BC, October 2010. Prepared under the supervision of Calvin Sandborn.
“British Columbia Update: West Coast Provincial Policies Ebb and Flow”, Ontario Bar Association Aboriginal Law Section. Toronto, ON, December 2011. Co-authored with Drew Mildon.
CONTACT DETAILS
Matt Boulton
Assistant: Sarah McMillan
Professional Standing
Member, Law Society of B.C. (2012)
Member, Canadian Bar Association
Member, CBA Aboriginal Law Vancouver Island Subsection
Director at Large, CBA Aboriginal Law Vancouver Island Subsection
Awards
Rocky Raccoon Award – UVic Environmental Law Clinic, 2010
Dean’s List Scholarship – University of Lethbridge (awarded on the basis of academic merit), 2003-2007
Other Activities
Volunteer Leader, 4-H Club
CBA Mentor
Rock climbing, hunting and fishing, camping, snowboarding, surfing, skimboarding, and adventure racing.