Keeping Tabs December 2018

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Q. What is your year of call?
A. 2017.
Q. What is your greatest extravagance in your
everyday life?
A. Coffee. Always coffee. There is nothing better
than an excellent cup to start the day.
Q. Which talent would you most like to have?
A. I love being on the go and on my feet but sometimes feel restless and impatient when I’m at my
desk. I wish I had more patience for long periods of research.
Q. How would your colleagues describe you?
A. Passionate and energetic – especially after
coffee #3.
Q. Which word do you prefer: litigator
or advocate?
A. Definitely advocate. It sounds more collaborative,
which is how I see my practice.
INTERVIEW
In conversation with
Leslie de Meulles
Weiler, Maloney, Nelson
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Compiled by Alexandra Shelley, Torys LLP
Q. What is your favourite case?
A. It is tough to pick a case in Aboriginal law, as so much of the jurisprudence in the area is problematic.
Even Tsilqot’in, which was an exciting case, had its downside. If I have to pick a case, then
Whiten v Pilot. It is encouraging to see the Supreme Court protect the interests of the underdog
and make a difference.
Q. What would you consider your greatest achievement?
A. I feel grateful to be practicing in the area I aspired to when I started law school. I am also happy
to be living and working in Northern Ontario, where Indigenous issues are at the forefront in a
way that can differ from other parts of the province.
Q. Why did you become a litigator or advocate?
A. I worked as senior policy advisor to the Ontario Minister of Northern Development and Mines
for four years prior to going to law school. I saw first-hand how the duty to consult was playing out
on the ground and knew it could be working better. My ultimate goal was to work with Indigenous
communities with a particular focus on the duty to consult.
Q. What is the latest non-legal book
you’ve read?
A. I just finished There There by Tommy
Orange. I highly recommend it!
Q. What is your favourite take out
cuisine?
A. Thai food!
Q. What have you learned from your practice as an Aboriginal lawyer?
A. Indigenous issues touch on every area of the law – not just what is typically thought of
as “Aboriginal law”, or the law pertaining to treaty, inherent and land title rights. There is
also a sea change happening. I have noticed this especially in the work I continue to do
with self-governing First Nations.
Q. If you weren’t a lawyer what would you be?
A. I would work in politics. It was a privilege to work at Queen’s Park. I learned a lot
and met some of the smartest and best people I know – and that includes all parties
and the public service.
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