Erika is a devoted advocate who specializes in Aboriginal law. As an Indigenous lawyer, she uses her strong communication and negotiation skills to ensure that her clients’ distinct interests and priorities are understood and addressed as part of reaching innovative and practical solutions that uphold and protect Indigenous rights.
Erika is a member of the firm’s Indigenous Practice Group. She is also a member of the firm’s Environmental, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Public Policy & Government Relations Groups. Erika’s practice focuses on advising Indigenous communities, governments and nations on Aboriginal and treaty rights-related matters, including advancing their visions of self-determination though the negotiation and implementation of self-government agreements and modern-day treaties. In this capacity, Erika works closely with her Indigenous clients to help build their internal governance structures and institutions, including supporting them in developing their own laws, constitutions and exercising their inherent jurisdiction.
Erika also regularly advises clients on the duty to consult and accommodate, partnerships between industry and Indigenous peoples, environmental stewardship and opportunities for Indigenous peoples to help advance their economic prosperity goals. She has worked on negotiating innovative relationship and economic reconciliation agreements, including impact benefit agreements and other accommodation arrangements that recognize and respect Indigenous rights across traditional territories (in particular within territories that include large urban centers).
Prior to joining Aird & Berlis, Erika practised at a nationally recognized Aboriginal law boutique firm after summering and articling at a leading national Toronto law firm, where she focused on a broad range of commercial litigation matters.
Erika is Métis and her family hails from Red River. She grew up in Alberta and is a citizen of the Métis Nation of Alberta.
