HALIFAX - Dave Joe, a private practice lawyer in Vancouver, is the recipient of the Canadian Bar Association’s (CBA) 2011 President’s Award. The award recognizes the significant contribution of a Canadian jurist to the legal profession, to the CBA or the public life of Canada.
Former chief negotiator for the Council of Yukon First Nations, Dave Joe was one of the principal architects of the Yukon Umbrella Final Agreement and Self-Government Agreements. These agreements have helped create strong First Nations communities and more positive relations between native and non-native people.
“Dave Joe has led a remarkable career working tirelessly to advance the interests of Canada’s First Nations,” says CBA President Rod Snow of Whitehorse. “The first Aboriginal lawyer North of 60 in the 1970s, a trailblazer, and a role model for all who followed, he has been a mentor and inspiration to the next generation.”
A citizen of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, Dave Joe was born in Klukshu, a traditional village in the Yukon, and lived on the trapline until he was sent to a residential school. He studied law at the University of British Columbia and was called to the bar in 1977. He has been a leader in the process of reconciliation that has taken place in recent years in the North.
Earlier this year, Mr. Joe negotiated a Justice agreement on behalf of the Teslin Tlingit Council (TTC) that recognizes the jurisdiction of the TTC Peacemakers Court. This Agreement is the first of its kind in Canada. It recognizes the TTC’s authority to administer justice in a manner that is culturally relevant to its people, lands, resources and traditions.
In 2008, Dave Joe was named an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Today, he runs a general practice in B.C. and the Yukon. He continues to ensure that First Nations people have access to affordable legal service, and he also provides scholarships and opportunities for young Native people to pursue careers in the legal profession.
The President’s Award will be presented at the CBA Awards Lunch on Saturday, August 13th at the Marriott Halifax Harbourfront, in the Halifax ABC Room, at 12:30 p.m. The luncheon is held in conjunction with the
CBA 2011 Canadian Legal Conference and Expo in Halifax August 14-16. The event is open to accredited media. Please contact
Hannah Bernstein for accreditation.
The Canadian Bar Association is dedicated to support for the rule of law, and improvement in the law and the administration of justice. Some 37,000 lawyers, law teachers, and law students from across Canada are members.
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