ABOUT THE IBA
ABOUT THE IBA
Legacy and Vision
The IBA is a not-for-profit federal corporation continued under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, S.C. 2009, c. 23, and a national association comprised of Indigenous lawyers, judges, legal academics and scholars, articling students, law clerks, paralegals and law students. The IBA has over 330 members located across Canada.
IBA members individually identify as members of Indigenous Peoples of Canada whose constitutional rights are recognized and affirmed under section 35(1), and they also often represent members and collectives of the Indigenous population.
The IBA’s objectives include:
promoting the advancement of legal and social justice for Indigenous Peoples of Canada;
promoting the reform of policies and laws affecting Indigenous Peoples of Canada; and
fostering public awareness within the legal community, the Indigenous community and the general public in respect of legal and social issues of concern to Indigenous Peoples of Canada
The IBA is a growing and dynamic coalition of Indigenous leaders in legal thought and practice and its reputation as a formidable advocate on behalf of Indigenous Peoples has been solidified over the years. The member of the IBA are to expand our capacity, strengthen our networks and continue to give back to the communities that we serve. Looking forward, the IBA is again poised to grow and build upon the legacy of our senior members.
The IBA continues to be a voice for those within the legal profession who wish to protect the virtues of Indigenous laws that are expressed through our traditions, customs and cultures, who want to build Indigenous legal systems that honour the natural laws to which we are all subject, and who wish to secure a just and prosperous society for our future generations. We also hope to support the mental well-being of our members undertaking the challenging work and performing the endless demands that have become intrinsic to the legal profession, and to assist those who are coming up with new ways to theorize about and practice law. The members of the IBA collectively hold a tremendous amount of knowledge, expertise and vision and a corresponding responsibility to protect and advance Indigenous legal traditions on behalf of our ancestors and those yet to come.
Leadership
Board of Directors
The board of directors of the Indigenous Bar Association in Canada is comprised of volunteers who oversee the strategic direction of the organization and execute the vision of its members.
-
Alexandria (Ajay) is Mohawk and Abenaki and from the turtle clan.
She received her JD from the University of Toronto, and her BA (hons) from the University of Alberta. Alexandria is a partner with Aird & Berlis LLP and specializes in Indigenous rights and Aboriginal law with a focus on issues including the duty to consult, negotiation and implementation of modern treaties and governance agreements, and partnerships between industry and Indigenous peoples. She is called to the bar in Ontario and Manitoba.
To contact Ajay, email her at: president@indigenousbar.ca.
-
SECRETARY
Victoria is a proud Métis-Cree from Winnipeg, with a deep commitment to Indigenous justice and legal advocacy. She holds a Juris Doctor (JD) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the University of Manitoba and is currently pursuing her Master of Laws (LLM) at Osgoode Hall.
As the principal of Perrie Law, Victoria focuses on criminal defence, police misconduct, and estate planning, providing legal services to communities in Nunavut and Manitoba.
With a passion for supporting marginalized and Indigenous communities, she uses her expertise to address complex legal issues and advocate for justice in the regions she serves.
To contact Victoria you can email her at: vice_president@indigenousbar.ca.
-
Melinda is Red River Métis from Manitoba with her Scrip bearing lines coming from the Red River Settlement and Manitoba’s Interlake.
Melinda received her JD from Robson Hall, University of Manitoba, and her education in life and love from her five amazing children. Melinda is an Associate at MLT Aikins LLP in Winnipeg, practicing in the areas of Indigenous Law and Business Law.
She sits on the Board of Directors for Clan Mothers Turtle Lodge Inc., is a founding member of Kahkakiw Kito Clinic, a non-profit organization that provides holistic support for Indigenous women facing challenges, and is on the Indigenous Advisory Council for the Federation of Law Societies. She is past President of the National Indigenous Law Students’ Association and various ad hoc groups advocating for Indigenous students and Indigenous women.
To reach her, you can email her at secretary@indigenousbar.ca
-
Benjamin Ironstand is Anishinaabe and of mixed European ancestry, a member of Tootinaowaziibeeng First Nation, located in Treaty 4 territory in Manitoba. He graduated with distinction from the University of Saskatchewan College of Law and is currently completing his articles with MLT Aikins LLP in Regina, Saskatchewan, where he is pursuing a career in Aboriginal Law.
Before entering law, Benjamin earned a Bachelor of Indigenous Education from the First Nations University of Canada and worked as a high school teacher. He later served as a consultant supporting First Nations in negotiating and implementing self-governance agreements in education.
Benjamin’s work and studies focus on advancing Indigenous self-government, economic development, and the recognition of inherent and treaty rights. He is passionate about helping Indigenous communities strengthen their governance and achieve their unique goals.
Benjamin is also a husband and father who loves spending time with his family and being out on the land.
To reach Benjamin, you can email him at treasurer@indigenousbar.ca
-
Tansi, my name is Zackery Anderson. I am a 29-year-old Cree man from Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and Opipon-na-pi-win Cree Nation in Treaty 5 Territory, Northern Manitoba. My connection to these communities grounds my identity and has guided my journey.
I recently graduated from Robson Hall Faculty of Law (2025) as the first in my family to earn a post-secondary degree and soon to be the first lawyer from my community. Law school was intimidating at first, but with the support of mentors and my community, I found my place and purpose.
I am currently articling at Cochrane Sinclair LLP in Winnipeg, the largest Indigenous-led firm in Canada, founded by the late Justice Murray Sinclair and Harold “Sonny” Cochrane of Fisher River Cree Nation. Our work focuses on Indigenous governance, child protection, Bill C-92, class actions, employment, and corporate law.
Beyond practice, I serve as Deputy Treasurer on the Indigenous Bar Association Board of Directors and as a liaison between the IBA and the National Indigenous Law Students’ Association (NILSA), where I previously served as Vice President of Finance. These roles allow me to advocate for Indigenous law students and ensure our voices are represented within the legal profession. It has been my pleasure to share with you a little bit about myself.
-
Dominga Robinson is of Nakota and Jamaican heritage and a proud citizen of the Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation in Treaty 4. She grew up in Regina, Saskatchewan. Before law school, she worked in non-profit funding, helping Indigenous communities revitalize their cultures and languages by securing and administering financial support.
Dominga is a newly called lawyer in Ontario and the Northwest Territories, practising with First Peoples Law LLP in the firm’s Ottawa office. She is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan College of Law, where she served two terms as President of the Indigenous Law Students Association, advocating for Indigenous students. She also recently completed a two-year term as the Indigenous Bar Association Student Representative. Dominga has been volunteering on non-profit boards since the age of 18.
As an intergenerational survivor of residential schools and the Sixties Scoop, Dominga’s lived experience deeply informs her perspective and fuels her passion for law. She has chosen this path to continue her advocacy work and to support Indigenous communities in revitalizing their laws and asserting their inherent rights and sovereignty.
Outside of her professional life, Dominga enjoys participating in traditional ceremonies, golfing, camping, traveling, performing in theatre productions, and spending time with family, friends, and her puppy, Lily.
-
Cheryl is a proud Mi’kmaw woman from Epekwitk, with extensive experience in community-based policy development. She obtained a B.A. in Native Studies from the University of Lethbridge, an LL.B from the University of Victoria, and an LL.M from Osgoode at York University.
After briefly practicing law, Cheryl worked with a national Indigenous organization where she worked with First Nation communities across the country, assisting in developing culturally relevant governance models based on traditional systems before opening her own consulting business. Cheryl moved on to work with a Treaty rights implementation organization in New Brunswick, while teaching courses on identity law for Cape Breton University. She is now an assistant professor at Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University and teaches Aboriginal and Indigenous law. She is a porcupine quill and split ash basket artist and has trained numerous apprentices; she is now incorporating art as a method of transferring Mi’kmaw legal knowledge into her work. Cheryl lives with her husband and their two children in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
-
Lori Mishibinijima is Anishinaabe from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory in Ontario. She is currently the Manager of Indigenous Initiatives at Osgoode Hall Law School, where she develops programs and initiatives that support the Indigenization of the school and curriculum. She also provides support to Indigenous students, applicants and alumni. In addition, Lori was Legal Counsel with the Human Rights Legal Support Centre for 10 years, where she provided legal representation to individuals respecting matters of discrimination under the Ontario Human Rights Code. She also acted as coordinator and helped develop the HRLSC's Indigenous Service where she increased access to justice for Indigenous people. For the last seventeen years, she has been a member of the Community Council, a criminal diversion program at Aboriginal Legal Services.
Lori has also served as the President of Native Men's Residence Board of Directors from 2011 to 2018, and continues as a director. In 2016, she was the recipient of the Minaake Award in Advocacy and Human Rights for her contributions to the Toronto Indigenous community. In 2023, she also joined the Indigenous Fashion Arts Board.
-
Ethan is Métis with ties to the Lindsay (Pocha) Settlement in present-day Saskatchewan and a citizen of the Métis Nation within Alberta.
As an associate at Aird & Berlis LLP, Ethan practises at the intersection of Indigenous, Aboriginal, and corporate law, providing strategic legal counsel to Indigenous governments, communities, and businesses. He is dedicated to supporting his clients’ visions for self-governance, self-determination, and economic reconciliation. Ethan is called to the bar in Alberta and Ontario.
During law school, Ethan served as the Co-Chair of the Osgoode Indigenous Students’ Association, the President of the Nation Indigenous law Students Association, and as a Student Representative on the Indigenous Bar Association’s Board of Directors.
-
Suzanne, is a L’nu (Mi’kmaq) woman from the Eskasoni Lnuwe’kati located in the Unama’ki district of Mi’kmaki. She holds a Juris Doctorate from the Schulich School of Law, with specialization certification in Criminal Justice, and Aboriginal and Indigenous Laws. A recipient of the Donald Marshall Jr award, Suzanne is deeply committed to justice reform and Indigenous legal resurgence. She currently sits on the board for the East Coast Prison Justice Society, and on the Chief Medical Examiners Death in Custody Review Committee. Guided by a background in grassroots advocacy, she has spent her career bridging worlds from policy to ceremony, and precedent and prophecy.
-
Ali Fontaine is Anishinaabe and was raised in Sagkeeng First Nation (Treaties 1, 3 and 5 territories) in Southeastern Manitoba. Ali has a Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies/Human Rights from the University of Winnipeg and a Master of Arts in Indigenous Governance from the University of Victoria.
Ali is currently completing her final year of Juris Doctor (J.D.) studies at the University of Saskatchewan College of Law, where she has served three terms as Vice-President Finance for the Indigenous Law Students’ Association.
Prior to law school, Ali worked in academic, social service, and arts/cultural settings. Ali is also a singer-songwriter with notable achievements on a national and international scale.
Ali currently lives in Saskatoon with her two daughters and pug named Eddy. In her spare time, she enjoys beading, making digital illustrations, visiting in the rez, and writing and performing music. Ali is set to clerk with the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal in Regina, SK for the 2026-2027 term following graduation.
Executive Assistant
Cindy Sunshine
The Indigenous Bar Association is pleased to welcome Cindy Sunshine, who joined the IBA as our Executive Assistant in July 2025.
Cindy is a proud Dakota-Irish woman from Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation. She brings a strong background in administration, event coordination, and community-based programming, with a passion for creating spaces that uplift and empower Indigenous voices.
With years of experience supporting boards, planning large-scale conferences, and managing organizational logistics, Cindy is known for her professionalism, creativity, and heart-led approach to her work. We are excited to have her join our team and contribute her knowledge and energy to the IBA community. Welcome, Cindy!
Contact Cindy via email: executive.director@indigenousbar.ca
Indigenous Peoples’ Counsel
The Indigenous Peoples’ Counsel designation (I.P.C.) is awarded each year to an Indigenous lawyer in recognition of outstanding achievements in the practice of law. In particular, the I.P.C. designation takes into account the manner in which the individual pursues the goals and objectives of the IBA and serves their community and the Creator with honour and integrity.
Candice Metallic
David Nahwegahbow
Delia Opekokew
Dianne Corbiere
Donald Worme
Jeffrey Hewitt
John Borrows
Justice Leonard S. Mandamin
Kathleen N. Lickers
Kimberly Murray
Roberta Jamieson
Roger Jones
Valerie Napoleon
Gerry Morin
Stuart Wutke
Tuma Young
Eileen Sasakamoose
Helen Semaganis
J. Wilton Littlechild
James (Sakej) Youngblood-Henderson
Jean Teillet
Mark L. Stevenson
Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond
Murray Sinclair
Paul L.A.H. Chartrand
Professor Darlene Johnston
2025 Award Winner
Tuma Young
Congratuations
Indigenous Judges in Canada
Superior Courts
-
Michelle O’Bonsawin
-
L.S. Tony Mandamin Federal Court (supernumerary), previously Alberta Provincial Court (retired) * IPC
Paul Favel - Federal Court
Roger Lafreniere - Federal Court, previously Federal Court Prothonotary
-
Johana Price - Alberta Court of King’s Bench
Cheryl Arcand-Kootenay Alberta Court of King’s Bench
-
Chief Justice Leonard Marchand - British Columbia Court of Appeal & Yukon Court of Appeal
Ardith Walkem - BC Superior Court*
-
Ken Champagne - Manitoba Court of King’s Bench, previously Manitoba Provincial Court Chief Judge
-
Shannon Smallwood - Chief Justice NWT Supreme Court
-
Todd Ducharme - Ontario Superior Court of Justice
Harry Laforme - Ontario Court of Appeal, previously Ontario Superior Court of Justice (retired), IPC
Rose Boyko - UN Administrative Appeals Tribunal, previously Ontario Superior Court of Justice, (retired)
Jonathon George - Ontario Court of Appeal, fom1erly Ontario Superior Court of Justice and Ontario Court of Justice
Catherine Rhinelander - Ontario Superior Court of Justice
Helen Pierce - Ontario Superior Court of Justice
-
Stacy Ryan - NL Supreme Court
-
Diane Rowe – NS Supreme Court
Pierre Leon Muise - NS Supreme Court
Tim Gabriel - NS Supreme Court
Aleta Cromwell - NS Supreme Court
-
Rejean Paul - Quebec Superior Court (retired)
Mark Phillips- Quebec Superior Court
-
Natasha Crooks - Saskatchewan Court of King’s Bench
British Columbia:
Steven Point - BC Provincial Court *
Alexander M.D. Wolf - BC Provincial Court
Karen Whonnock - BC Provincial Court *
Linda Thomas - BC Provincial Court
Tina Dion - BC Provincial Court *
Alfred Scow - BC Provincial Court (deceased) John Joe BC Provincial Court (deceased)
Marion Buller Bennet - BC Provincial Court (retired) now Chancellor of University of Victoria *
Raymond Phillip - BC Provincial Court
Eugene Jamison - BC Provincial Court
Provincial & Territorial Courts
Alberta:
Danielle Dalton - Alberta Provincial Court *
Eugene J Creighton - Alberta Provincial Court (retired) Ivan ML Ladouceur Alberta Provincial Court
Karen A Crowshoe - Alberta Provincial Court *
Deborah ML Hanley - Alberta Justice of the Peace *
Thomas Goodson - Alberta Provincial Court (retired)
Grace Auger - Alberta Provincial Court
Ivan Ladouceur - Alberta Provincial Court
Saskatchewan:
Michelle Brass - Saskatchewan Provincial Court *
Ken Bellrose - Saskatchewan Provincial Cou11 (retired)
Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond - Saskatchewan Provincial Court (retired) former BC Representative for Children and Youth, now law professor BC Peter A. Allard School of Law
Gerry Morin - Saskatchewan Provincial Court (retired)
Donald Bird - Saskatchewan Provincial Court (retired)
Murray Pelletier - Saskatchewan Provincial Court
Lua Gibb - Saskatchewan Provincial Court
Mary McAuley - Saskatchewan Provincial Court
Manitoba:
Kelly Moar - Manitoba Provincial Court
Doreen Redhead - Manitoba Provincial Court
Kael McKenzie - Manitoba Provincial Court
Vincent Sinclair - Manitoba Provincial Court
Ontario:
Terry Vyse - Ontario Court of Justice
Gethin Edward - Ontario Court of Justice
Joyce Lynn Pelletier - Ontario Court of Justice
Peter Isaac - Ontario Court of Justice
Catherine Mathais McDonald - Ontario Court of Justice
Jodie Lynn Waddilove - Ontario Court of Justice*
Timothy C Whetung - Ontario Court of Justice (retired)
Jessica Wolfe – Ontario Court of Justice*
Evelyn Baxter – Ontario Court of Justice*
Jenny Restoule-Mallozzi - Ontario Court of Justice
Andre Chamberlain- Ontario Court of Justice
New Brunswick:
Troy Sweet - NB Provincial Court * (not current)
Graydon Nicholas - NB Provincial Court (retired)
Newfoundland & Labrador:
James Igloliorte - Newfoundland & Labrador (retired)
Kerri (Kari) Ann Pike – Newfoundland & Labrador Provincial Court
Northwest Territories:
Stephanie Whitecloud-Brass - Territorial Court of NWT
Nova Scotia
Catherine Benton - Provincial and Family Courts of Nova Scotia *
Kelly Serbu – Nova Scotia Provincial Court
Nunavut
Nicole Sikma - Nunavut Justice of the Peace Court
Akwesasne
Joyce Tekahnawiiaks King – Akwesasne Court
Indigenous Courts:
Annual Reports
The Board of Directors of the Indigenous Bar Association are pleased to present our 4th annual report. This report summarizes most of the work the Board undertook in 2024/2025, in collaboration with our Members.
ABOUT THE COVER IMAGE AND ARTIST:
The Board of Directors is especially pleased to feature a student artist for this year’s artwork. This collaboration holds particular significance in a year that marks the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the IBA and the National Indigenous Law Students’ Association (NILSA). The MOU represents a shared commitment to mentorship, capacity-building, and the advancement of Indigenous students in law. The inclusion of a student artist in this year’s materials, and the support, willingness and incredibly hard work of Kaitlyn to be our featured artist this year, beautifully symbolizes that spirit of partnership and renewal.
Kaitlyn Clarke is a Red River Métis woman from Winnipeg, MB and a third-year law student at the University of Manitoba. She has been on a journey of revitalizing Métis traditions within her family and draws inspiration from Louis Riel’s words: “My people will sleep for one hundred years, but when they awake, it will be the artists who give them their spirit back.” She is currently developing Flora Oaks, a creative venture dedicated to sharing her designs and celebrating the beauty of cultural resurgence.
For the IBA conference, her piece is inspired by Métis florals while honouring the Coast Salish Peoples whose territories hosted this year’s gathering. The inclusion of the bison reflects the roots of Métis law and symbolizes the resilience of Indigenous Peoples in continuing to fight for justice despite being pushed west and facing attempts at eradication.”
The Board of Directors of the Indigenous Bar Association are pleased to present our 3rd annual report. This report summarizes most of the work the Board undertook in 2022/2023, in collaboration with our Members.
ABOUT THE COVER IMAGE AND ARTIST
The IBA is grateful to Lese Skidmore for allowing us to feature her beautiful artwork again in this annual report.
Lese Skidmore is a First Nations woman of Anishinaabe and German decent from Roseau River First Nation. At the heart of her 20-year media career is a deep sense of care for Indigenous people, knowledges, cultures and rights. Lese strives towards social justice by creating media to guide Indigenous people towards asserting their agency, and knowledge about their rights, as they navigate oppressive systems. For the last twenty years, Lese has been an editor, producer, director and graphic designer at BearPaw Media and Education. She is currently the Legal Education Media Producer.
The Board of Directors of the Indigenous Bar Association are pleased to present our 3rd annual report. This report summarizes most of the work the Board undertook in 2022/2023, in collaboration with our Members.
ABOUT THE COVER IMAGE AND ARTIST
The IBA is grateful to Lese Skidmore for allowing us to feature her beautiful artwork in this annual report.
Lese Skidmore is a First Nations woman of Anishinaabe and German decent from Roseau River First Nation. At the heart of her 20-year media career is a deep sense of care for Indigenous people, knowledges, cultures and rights. Lese strives towards social justice by creating media to guide Indigenous people towards asserting their agency, and knowledge about their rights, as they navigate oppressive systems. For the last twenty years, Lese has been an editor, producer, director and graphic designer at BearPaw Media and Education. She is currently the Legal Education Media Producer.
The Board of Directors of the Indigenous Bar Association are pleased to present our 2nd annual report. This report summarizes most of the work the Board undertook in 2021/2022, in collaboration with our Members.
ABOUT THE COVER IMAGE AND ARTIST
We are so grateful to Mary McPherson for allowing us to feature her beautiful artwork, and elements of it, in this annual report.
Mary McPherson is a daughter, sister, auntie, and a mixed Anishinaabe member of Couchiching First Nation in Northwestern Ontario, where her family is from. She grew up in Thunder Bay, working as a visual artist in the community while pursuing her undergraduate degree in Fine Arts and Indigenous Learning at Lakehead University. She has since obtained a J.D. from the University of Ottawa and is currently pursuing an LL.M. at Queen’s University.
The Board of Directors of the Indigenous Bar Association are pleased to present our first-ever annual report. This report summarizes most of the work the Board undertook in 2020/2021, in collaboration with our Members.
ABOUT THE COVER IMAGE AND ARTIST
We are so grateful to David Werner for allowing us to feature his beautiful artwork, and elements of it, in this annual report.
David is Michif/Métis His family members are Morrissettes from Duck Bay, Manitoba. Going back, his Parenteau family was at Batoche and going back further, they were at the Red River Settlement. Both his great-grandparents went to LeBret residential school around 1906. David’s interest in beadwork came later in life. He says, “We didn’t have any family beadwork pieces and I wanted to create beadwork for my children and future generations. I learned beadwork from Gregory Scofield and Amy Briley, since then all my designs are grounded in Métis and Northern Métis style.” David is a second year law at the University of Saskatchewan. He owns his own business that sells Métis-inspired stickers at metisstickerempire.ca.
Banner Photo by Ulysse Pointcheval, Unsplash | Art Elements by Storm Angeconeb