Dakota F.
Bernard

Dakota is a Mi’kmaq lawyer from Wagmatcook First Nation, which is located in Unama’ki (Cape Breton). At Pink Larkin, Dakota primarily practices within the litigation group, at the Halifax office.

In his litigation practice, Dakota provides advocacy in civil litigation cases, focusing on Indigenous law and Human Rights as well as complex construction and commercial disputes. Dakota advises Indigenous clients in a broad range of matters including Indigenous governance, Aboriginal and Treaty rights, consultation and negotiation of land claims, natural resource development and litigation. Dakota has appeared before all levels of court in Nova Scotia including the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court, Provincial Court and Small Claims Court.

Dakota received his law degree and Certificate in Aboriginal and Indigenous Law from the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University. While at law school, Dakota developed his advocacy skills by advocating for Indigenous students, having served as a representative and co-president of the Dalhousie Indigenous Law Students’ Association. He also demonstrated his commitment to raising awareness and working for social justice and criminal law reform with respect to Indigenous peoples, having received the Donald Marshall Jr. Memorial Award upon his graduation from the Schulich School of Law.

Before attending law school, Dakota obtained his B.A. from Saint Mary’s University. In his spare time, Dakota can be found enjoying the outdoors and continues to return home to Cape Breton whenever he can to fish the beautiful lakes and rivers of the island and to spend time with his family.