Aboriginal Title and
Private Ownership:
Can they coexist?
November 16, 2026, 7–8:30 pm
UBC Robson Square Theatre | 800 Robson St, Vancouver, BC (map)
Recent court decisions on Aboriginal land title and their impact on private property has brought to the forefront the longstanding question of how to resolve competing land claims in British Columbia.
While courts may recognize both interests, significant questions remain about what coexistence looks like in practice.
Join us on November 16 as UBC Debates brings together four prominent voices to debate whether Aboriginal title and private ownership can coexist.
Debaters
Arguing that Aboriginal Title and Private Ownership Can Coexist:
Renée Pelletier
Renée Pelletier is a Partner at Olthuis, Kleer, Townshend LLP. Renée served as lead counsel on two Aboriginal title claims, including the Wolastoqey Nation’s claim to their territory in New Brunswick, where she recently litigated the question of the interaction of Aboriginal title and fee simple. Renée is consistently recognized as an expert in Aboriginal law in various legal directories and was awarded “Lawyer of the Year” for 2026 by Best Lawyers in Canada.
Dr. Stewart Prest
Stewart Prest is a Lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the University of British Columbia, where he teaches BC Politics, international relations and threats to democracy. He writes for the Walrus, and his commentary has appeared in the New York Times, the BBC, CNN, the Globe and Mail, and many other local and international outlets.
Arguing that Aboriginal Title and Private Ownership Cannot Coexist:
Thomas Isaac
Thomas Isaac is a Partner at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, and Chair of the firm’s Aboriginal Law Group and National Major Projects Team. He advises business and government clients across Canada on Aboriginal legal, regulatory, environmental assessment, negotiation, and constitutional matters, and was named one of Canadian Lawyer magazine’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada.
Geoffrey Moyse, KC
Geoffrey S. Moyse, KC, is a senior lawyer who advised six successive B.C. governments on Aboriginal law over more than 30 years and is now Principal of Moyse Law.
Host
Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon
President and Vice-Chancellor, UBC
Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon started a five-year term as the 17th President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia in 2023. He holds a PhD in neuropsychology and his research in the field of cognitive neuroscience focuses on the links between brain activity and perception in the visual, auditory and vestibular systems, as well as on multisensory integration.
Sharing his own lived experience, he advocates nationally for open conversations about mental health and substance use. These efforts have been recognized with a Transformational Leader Inspiration Award from the Royal Ottawa Hospital, and the Honorary Presidency of the Canadian Psychological Association.
Moderator
Aaron Pete
Host, Nuanced Podcast
Aaron Pete is the Chief of Chawathil First Nation, a graduate of the Peter A. Allard School of Law and the host of the Nuanced Podcast.
What is UBC Debates?
Modelling civil discourse in a polarized world
UBC Debates seeks to bridge the gap between opposing views, creating a space where the community can engage serious topics with civility, respect, and decency.
At a time when polarization is growing and echo chambers can discourage engagement with differing viewpoints, there is a greater need for spaces that support respectful dialogue, intellectual curiosity, and constructive debate.
UBC Debates brings together renowned experts to discuss complex and timely issues, fostering civil discourse and helping audiences deepen their understanding of different perspectives.
