Darian Baskatawang

Summer Law Student

dbaskatawang@oktlaw.com
@dariandoblej

  • Contents

    • Darian is a summer law student at OKT. Darian has experience in Indigenous affairs and reconciliation after taking several posts with the Premier of Ontario and the Office of the Prime Minister. He takes a special interest in general Crown-Indigenous relations, often focusing on Aboriginal rights and title, Treaty rights, Indian Act measures and related regulations. It is in these studies and interests where he finds best practices for effective Indigenous self-governance and sovereignty.

    Darian currently studies at the Queen’s University Faculty of Law, where he has received awards for personal and professional excellence as well as extensive work in advocating for anti-racism, equity, and diversity. He also received in Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) at Queen’s, majoring in Political Studies – where he studied the effects of Crown institutions on Indigenous women, girls, and children

    Representative Work

    Negotiation

    • Assisted in the negotiation and implementation of the Ontario – Anishinabek Nation Education Agreement, the largest sectoral self-governance agreement in Canada
    • Assisted in negotiations with the Crown and energy provider in a settlement agreement

    Strategic Planning

    • Assisted various Ministers in drafting laws, policies, and regulations that affected Indigenous people, such as the overhaul of the Ontario child welfare system, revamp of student assistance programs, and more
    • Assisted with consultations to draft laws and codes for First Nations communities, including constitutional and membership code work
    • Assisted Indigenous youth create, plan, and implement their own strategies and paths of engagement

    Selected Speaking Engagements

    • Speaker, ‘State of Indigenous Health and Human Rights in Canada’, Queen’s Health and Human Rights Conference, Kingston, Canada, November 2018.
    • Speaker, ‘LGBTI Youth, Inclusive Education and Health’, Leaving No One Behind: UN Equal Rights Coalition Global Conference on LGBTI Human Rights and Inclusive Development, Vancouver, Canada, August 2018.
    • Speaker, ‘Leaving No One Behind – Canada’s Role in Advancing LGBTQ2 Human Rights Globally. Leaving No One Behind: UN Equal Rights Coalition Global Conference on LGBTI Human Rights and Inclusive Development, Vancouver, Canada, August 2018.
    • Speaker, ‘Racism in the Laws of Love for Indians’, Government of Ontario Conference on Anti-Racism, Toronto, Canada, December 2017.