Alissa is a trusted advisor to Indigenous governments who
practises exclusively in the area of Aboriginal law as a negotiator and
litigator. With a particular emphasis on governance and the intersection of
Aboriginal and environmental law, Alissa’s work includes assisting clients as
they advance their jurisdiction and rights within their traditional territories,
as well as negotiating innovative and constructive agreements to advance her
clients’ aspirations within their territories. Alissa’s strength lies in her
compassion and strong communication skills. Mindful of clients’ emotional
considerations, she listens to their needs and delivers complex information in
an accessible manner.
Alissa is a member of the firm’s Indigenous Practice Group. She is also a member of the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution and
Environmental Law Groups. Alissa’s work includes advising Indigenous
communities and governments on Aboriginal and Treaty rights-related matters spanning from harvesting rights, the duty to consult and accommodate, resource
benefit sharing arrangements, child and family services, citizenship issues,
internal self-government capacity building, the negotiation and implementation
of self-government agreements and modern day treaties, as well as the
resolution of historical grievances. Alissa has a wealth of experience in supporting
clients in managing complex processes to advance their rights and interests,
including historical claims against the Crown, litigation and community
engagement on challenging issues.
Prior to joining Aird & Berlis, Alissa practised at a
nationally recognized Aboriginal law boutique firm after summering and
articling with a Toronto litigation firm specializing in Aboriginal law. Alissa
interned, worked and mentored with several law firms in Toronto through the Law
in Action Within Schools (LAWS) Program, of which she is the first graduate to
be licensed to practise law. During her studies, Alissa represented the
University of Toronto as a Student Delegate at the COP21 international climate
change negotiations in Paris, France and studied Anishinaabe law and legal
traditions with leading Indigenous law scholars.
