Indigenous Legal Studies invites students of all backgrounds to join Heather-Anne Manly and Amanda Carling to learn about alternative careers in Law.
Amanda Carling (she/her) is Métis from Red River, Treaty One. She is a grateful guest on the unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan peoples with her partner Jesse, son Sam (5) and daughter Joy (2).
Amanda attended law school at the University of Toronto (JD, 2012) and articled with Innocence Canada. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 2013. Amanda served as president of the board for Aboriginal Legal Services in Toronto from 2014 until 2020. In 2014, Amanda launched Innocence Canada’s National Legal Education Program to forward the organization’s mandate to prevent wrongful convictions. The same year Amanda was appointed by the Attorney General for Ontario to the Debwewin Jury Implementation Committee. In 2016 she returned to the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law as Manager of the Indigenous Initiatives Office, and Adjunct Faculty, where she oversaw the institution’s efforts related to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Calls to Action and taught a course on wrongful convictions. Amanda’s work in legal education was recognized by Precedent Magazine in 2020. Amanda has served on the Canada Committee of Human Rights Watch since 2016.
Amanda was called to the Bar of British Columbia in May 2022. She first joined the BC First Nations Justice Council in 2022 as a Senior Policy Lawyer. Within a few months, as the capacity of the organization grew, Amanda accepted the role of Chief Executive Officer. She has since led the organization in a restructure, creating a 7-Bundle system to best tackle the 25 Strategies and 43 lines of action that the organization is responsible for. Amanda is proud to be leading the organization that is blazing a new trail for all those who have and continue to be victimized by Canada’s racist laws and institutions.
Heather Manly is from the Haisla Nation and currently resides in Vancouver – the ancestral territory of the Squamish, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. She is a graduate of the UBC Peter A. Allard School of Law and earned her Juris Doctor in the fall of 2018. She holds a specialization in Aboriginal law.
Heather attended law school as a mature student. She was a police officer with the Ontario Provincial Police and retired shortly after obtaining her Juris Doctor. Heather worked extensively in areas of Aboriginal policing during her career. Among her many postings, Heather served in the far north of Ontario in remote, fly-in Oji-Cree communities. She learned first-hand the challenges and inequities that Indigenous people face within the criminal justice system. Heather’s work in law enforcement inspired her desire to study law.
Heather articled at the Aboriginal rights and title law firm of Donovan & Company (now First Peoples Law). After articles, she accepted a position as strategic and legal advisor to her nation - not as a practicing lawyer but using her legal education, training, and professional expertise to support her community. Heather’s work involved managing the work of external legal counsel, laying the groundwork for the implementation of a Legal Services Department and an In-House legal counsel position. She also drafted key policies, by-laws and worked at updating membership code and election code laws.
Heather recently wrapped up her work as an advisor to her nation. She is now preparing to further her education with a master’s degree with a focus on Indigenous leadership, enforcement of First Nation laws and criminal justice issues.
A limited number of lunches will be available.
- Indigenous Legal Studies
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