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ABOUT
Michelle Casavant, KC
Lawyer, Mediator, Conflict Coach, Investigator
Michelle Casavant, KC is mixed heritage Métis, French, and German. Her Métis family names are Vandal, Boyer, and St. Baptiste.
Michelle has a background and formal training in fine arts, education, law and dispute resolution. She was called to the Bar in British Columbia in 2010.
Michelle's work in Aboriginal law began in 2008. Michelle spent time in Yukon with the Ministry of Energy and Mines, doing consultation work throughout the territory on a proposed pipeline. She also clerked at the Federal Court in 2008-2009 with the first Indigenous appointed judge, the Hon. Leonard (Tony) Mandamin.
Since that time, she has practised extensively in Aboriginal law, with experience spanning nation building and governance; reserve land leasing and designations; additions to reserve; Indian Residential School hearings; First Nations Land Management Act processes; treaty and rights recognition negotiations; major project consultation and environmental assessments; and proceedings before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal and the Specific Claims Tribunal.
For the past 15 years Michelle has also supported young families and low barrier clients with wills and estate planning.
Michelle completed the JIBC mediation certificate in 2021 and is an Associate Roster member of Mediate BC. Her grounded presence and facilitation creates a trauma responsive safe space for participants. Within her dispute resolution practice she also offers conflict coaching, assisting individuals or groups in navigating conflict with effective communication methods.
Most recently her work has been focused on eliminating Indigenous specific racism in health care by serving as a panel member and statutory decision maker on the Inquiry Committees at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (CPSBC). She also served on the Board of CPSBC until the Health Professions and Occupations Act transition on April 1, 2026.
She has a passion for sharing her culture by hosting Indigenous authors book clubs, beading workshops, cultural competency training, community engagement, drum and rattle making workshops and other cultural workshops.