51ÁÔÆæ

Casey will be completing her articles with the Wahkohtowin Law and Governance Lodge and the Alberta Court of Appeal, as well as undertaking a clerkship with the Supreme Court of Canada.

Casey is a Cree and Dene iskwew from Fort Nelson First Nation but currently raises her two young daughters alongside her husband in Edmonton, AB. She is a recent graduate of the 51ÁÔÆæ Juris Doctor program, an articling student with Wahkohtowin Law & Governance Lodge, and Special Project Governance Coordinator and legal researcher for her nation.

Her passion is in the pursuit of reducing systemic inequalities and barriers to access from grassroots to global. This has led her to many community circles including as the outgoing Co-Chair External of the Indigenous Law Student Association, Indigenous Bar Association Student Representative with the National Indigenous Law Students Association, a board member for the Grande Prairie Friendship Centre, and as co-founder of The Medicine Box Project and Waniska Leaders which bring both Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants together in traditional knowledge revitalization. This work has gifted her with the opportunity to speak in engagements from the Youth G7 Summit to the United Nations Environmental Programme. It is truly an honour to have found a home and a family in all of her work.

Called to the bar in 2023, Hero is a Senior Researcher with the Wahkohtowin Law & Governance Lodge and is pursuing an LLM at the 51ÁÔÆæ. With over 15 years of experience in organizations from the grassroots to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat at the Government of Canada, Hero has worked with many groups on law and social systems reform. They currently serve on the leadership teams of Volunteer Alberta, the River City Venture Clinic and the Digital Law & Innovation Society. Previously, they co-founded Connect the Sector, acted as a start-up staff member of the Ontario Nonprofit Network, and co-founded the River Valley Free School, a skills sharing community in Amiskwacîwâskahikan / Edmonton, on Treaty 6 territory, where they live. You can find Hero hanging out with rocks and trees, meditating, making art and cuddling with family. Pronouns: they/them

Gavin is a Treaty 11, status, band member of the Liidlii Kue First Nation located in Fort Simpson, from the Dehcho region of the Northwest Territories.

Gavin is passionate about family, the reclamation of a voice through educational environments, Indigenous advocacy, and Indigenous legal assertion.

In the legal academic setting, he has worked towards fair representation in this type of system to make small - but meaningful - change towards healing, expansion of opportunities, and Indigenous legal preservation. He has had a seat on Indigenous committees, worked within varying Indigenous communities, and was previously a first-year representative on the Indigenous Law Students’ Association (ILSA) (2020/21), ILSA Representative on the Law Students’ Association (2021/22), and Chair of ILSA (2022/23).

Now Gavin is an articling student with the Wahkohtowin Law and Governance Lodge, and seeks to develop a career in Indigenous law, self-governance, negotiation, Indigenizing colonial Western common law, and legal advocacy through a multi-juridical approach.

Siobhan is a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta, and has grown up in Treaty 6 Territory. She is a Juris Doctor candidate who has just finished second year, and is excited to be a research assistant for the Wahkohtowin Law and Governance Lodge. Siobhan is passionate about Indigenous, queer, and feminist issues. She has been part of the Indigenous Law Students' Association (ILSA) as a general member, the Administration and Coordination Co-Chair, and now the External Co-Chair. Many of her favourite law school memories have revolved around experiences and relationships built through ILSA and the Lodge, and she is grateful to continue learning from, and working with, Indigenous peers, leaders, teachers, and allies. In the summer her favourite places to be are playing rugby with friends and spending time with family at the lake.

Brittany Bitternose is nehiyaw iskwew (Cree woman) from George Gordon First Nation, located in Treaty 4 territory. She is currently entering her second year of the Juris Doctor program at the 51ÁÔÆæ Faculty of Law. With a background in management, finance, and corporate law, Brittany is particularly interested in Indigenous legal traditions, governance, and the advancement of Indigenous sovereignty and treaty rights. She looks forward to working as a Research Assistant with the Wahkohtowin Law and Governance Lodge, and contributing to community-engaged legal research and the promotion of Indigenous laws.

Aiyana was born and raised in Edmonton and is a member of Beaver Lake Cree Nation.

She completed her Bachelor of Secondary Education through the Aboriginal Teachers Education Program at the 51ÁÔÆæ in December 2021. Her major was Social Studies and her minor was Native Education. After completing her degree, Aiyana worked as a teacher for a year in Enoch Cree Nation, where she continues to substitute teach when available. As a teacher, she taught Cultural Arts, Drama 10, and Aboriginal Studies 30. As much as Aiyana loved teaching, she wanted to continue pursuing her education through law school.

Aiyana is interested in many areas of law but understands that it is important in whatever practice she ends up doing, she works with and for Indigenous people. In law school, Aiyana is currently the Cultural Events Co-Chair for the Indigenous Law Students Association.

Aiyana enjoys trying new restaurants and travelling with her two small dogs.

Danny is of mixed Cree, Métis and European descent. Their family comes from Ahtahkakoop First Nation and they were raised in a small town in Saskatchewan. They moved to Edmonton in 2018 to complete a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English. During their undergrad they spent time studying Indigenous literature and running a small magazine.

Danny came to law school with a passion for helping others. They just finished their first year of law school and plan on pursuing courses in Indigenous law, labour and employment law, and environmental law. Danny held the role of First Year Special Events Chair for the Indigenous Law Students Association (ILSA). They are the incoming Co-Chair External for the ILSA.

Danny enjoys beading, playing board games, reading, and making niche playlists. They live with their partner and sweet senior dog. Danny plans on spending the summer camping and going to concerts.

Vibby is a third-year law student with an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Sociology with a Certificate in Community Engagement and Service-Learning. She was born in Gurdaspur, India, and raised on Treaty 6 territory in Edmonton, Alberta. Her experiences as a first-generation immigrant have shaped her understanding of systemic barriers and commitment to equity.

Vibby came to law school to become a better advocate and believes supporting Indigenous governance is a responsibility for everyone living on this land. Her family’s history of displacement and survival has shaped how she understands the impact of colonial systems on law, culture, and identity. This perspective draws her to legal work that supports communities on their own terms – with care and respect.

Outside of law school, Vibby enjoys sketching on her iPad, travelling as often as possible, and trying new restaurants. She loves connecting with others and believes creativity, curiosity, and a strong sense of self all have a place in the legal world.

Teanna (she/her) is a proud member of Beaver First Nation, located within Treaty 8 territory. She was raised in Fort Vermilion, Alberta, and relocated to Treaty 6 territory in 2017 to pursue post-secondary education, with the long-term goal of becoming a lawyer.

In 2021, Teanna earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the 51ÁÔÆæ, majoring in Political Science with a minor in History. Following graduation, she was accepted into the Faculty of Law at the 51ÁÔÆæ, where she continues her studies.

Teanna is deeply committed to addressing the over-representation of Indigenous peoples in the criminal justice system. She aspires to build a legal career rooted in empathy, respect, and compassion, providing meaningful support to those who need it most.

She has volunteered with Student Legal Services and currently serves as the 2024–2025 Administration Co-Chair of the Indigenous Law Students' Association (ILSA). Outside of her academic and volunteer commitments, Teanna enjoys spending time at the farmers’ market with her daughter and going on walks with her goldendoodle, Winnie.

Lindsey is a member of the Otipemisiwak Métis Nation and grew up in Calgary/Mohkinstsis. She is a second-year law student and an active volunteer, holding positions as Co-Chair of ILSA’s Speaker Series and Vice President (Fundraising) of OUTLaw. Lindsey comes to law after a previous career in film and theatre. She is passionate about adult education, arts and culture, community initiatives, traditional ecological knowledge, reconciliation, and building a climate-conscious, equitable and sustainable future.

Born in 1944, an Anishinaabe member of the Wiikwemikoong Unceded Indian Reserve on Manitoulin Island, Ontario. Educated at University of Waterloo (B.A.Sc. Electrical Engineering 1971); 51ÁÔÆæ (LL.B. 1982); Native Studies, 51ÁÔÆæ (M.A. 2021)

Called to the Alberta Bar in 1983. Established the Law Firm of Mandamin and Associates in 1985 representing First Nations, Indigenous organizations and individuals. Appeared as counsel before the Alberta Queen’s Bench and Provincial Courts and before the Supreme Court of Canada (R. v. Badger), Saskatchewan Court of Appeal (R. v. Wolfe) and the Indian Claims Commission (Cold Lake First Nations Primrose Claim).

Faculty Co-ordinator for Aboriginal Justice Seminars at the Banff School of Management 1991-94 and Adjunct Professor at the 51ÁÔÆæ School of Native Studies 1988-92. Commissioner and Chairperson of the Edmonton Police Commission 1991-1995 and President of the Canadian Native Friendship Centre in Edmonton, Alberta (1990).

Provincial Court Judge in the Provincial Court of Alberta (1999 - 2007). Presided in the Tsuu T’ina Court which involved First Nation peacemaking and in the Siksika Court which also involved traditional Indigenous resolution. Judge of the Federal Court 2007. Chaired the Federal Court Aboriginal Law Liaison Committee. Retired from Federal Court August 19, 2019.

Awards: 1996 Aboriginal Justice Award by Aboriginal Law Students Association, 51ÁÔÆæ; 1999 Four Eagle Feathers (traditional Indigenous award) presented by Family, First Nations, and Indigenous individuals; 2007 awarded traditional naming ceremonies by both Tsuut’ina and Siksika, 2018 Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa by Law Society of Ontario; 2019 Indigenous Peoples’ Counsel by Indigenous Bar Association.

Currently Counsel with Witten LLP, Edmonton. Scholar-in-Residence at Wahkohtowin Law and Governance Lodge at the 51ÁÔÆæ.