Michael was commissioned by the Ipperwash Inquiry in Ontario to write its major background paper on aboriginal land claims in Ontario and government policies for addressing and resolving them. In April 2005 Michael participated in a round table of all parties to the Inquiry to discuss his findings. The Inquiry's report is expected to be made public in the Fall of 2006.

In April 2005 Michael presented a paper on the meaning of "the honour of the Crown" as it relates to Aboriginal rights, at the Pacific Law Institute Conference at the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa.

In June 2005 Michael was an invited speaker at the annual meeting of the Canadian Congress of Administrative Tribunals, also held in Ottawa. Later that month he delivered a talk on traditional Aboriginal justice ways to a leadership retreat for aboriginal officers in the Ontario Provincial Police.

On November 10 and 11 2005 Michael, together with Family Law mediator, Hilary Linton, will provide a two day negotiation training session for family lawyers, under the auspices of the Osgoode Hall Professional Development Programme.

In January 2006 the Canada Council announced that a national research project in which Michael is participating has been awarded a five year grant totalling $2.5 million. Researchers from around the country will be examining different aspects of the the challenge of developing new governance arrangements with aboriginal peoples. Michael's research will focus on the role of negotiation strategies in fostering creative, fair and enduring outcomes.

In its most recent two issues (Fall 2005 and Spring 2006) the Queen's Law Journal has published two new articles by Michael. The articles critique past and present land and treaty claims processes in Canada, and offer recommendations for establishing more effective processes for the future.