The
Team

Dr. John Borrows, BA, MA, JD, LLM, PhD, LLD, DHL, FRSC, OC, is Canada’s pre-eminent legal scholar and a global leader in the field of Indigenous legal traditions and Aboriginal rights.

John holds the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Law at the University of Victoria, where he teaches constitutional law, Indigenous law and environmental law. His research focuses on advancing the understanding of Indigenous laws and customs. John is Anishinabe/Ojibway and a member of the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation in Ontario.

In May 2017, the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor-General of Canada, presented John with the prestigious 2017 Killam Prize in the Social Sciences for his “contributions as a global leader in Indigenous law, and substantial and distinguished scholarship and commitment to furthering our knowledge about Indigenous legal tradition.” John also holds honorary doctoral degrees from Dalhousie University, Queen’s University, University of Toronto, York University, Simon Fraser University, and the Law Society of Upper Canada “for his leadership in Indigenous law.”

Chanze Gamble, MBA, has 20 years’ experience as a senior executive at some of Canada’s most well-established Indigenous organizations and as a governance and business consultant supporting Indigenous self-determination and business projects.

Chanze is Founder and President of Invest Indigenous Summit, supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs and businesses to develop equity financing proposals and business pitches to attract equity investors. He is a PhD student at the University of Victoria’s Gustavson School of Business, focusing on Indigenous economic development and cultural influence. Chanze is Cree and a member of the Beardy’s and Okemasis Cree Nation in Saskatchewan.

Examples of Chanze’s past projects include implementing business development programs such as the BC Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative, Economic Development Support Team, and Nation Governance Initiative at the New Relationship Trust; authoring the First Nations Consultation and Accommodation Best Practice Report; and writing a feasibility study for the Tsawwassen First Nation to enhance the Delta Port corridor efficiency. Executive positions held include:

Harold Tarbell, President of Tarbell Facilitation Network, is a member of the Mohawk Nation at Akwesasne, a First Nation/Native American community located in Ontario, Quebec and New York State.

Harold has successfully provided independent facilitation, strategic planning and conference moderation services over the last 20 years in order to support Indigenous peoples having a voice in decisions that affect them at the national, regional and local levels.

Prior to founding his own consulting company, Harold developed extensive experience working with Indigenous and First Nations organizations in both the U.S. and Canada. Harold’s career includes serving as an elected Tribal Chief on the US/Southern portion of his home community, Chief of Staff to former National Chief Ovide Mercredi during the Charlottetown Canadian Constitutional Negotiations, and Director of the federal government’s Aboriginal Labour Market Development program. Harold is co-author of “The Anishinabek Nation Economy: Our Economic Blueprint”.