Stephanie Willsey is Chippewa from Rama First Nation in southern Ontario. She brings a rich blend of legal expertise and community involvement to APTN’s board of directors. Stephanie works as an associate at McCarthy Tetrault LLP in Toronto, where her practice primarily focuses on class actions, Aboriginal law and media and communications matters. She has appeared before various levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada. 

With a JD from the University of British Columbia specializing in Indigenous legal issues, Stephanie’s academic background lays a solid foundation for her work. Her notable achievements include successfully representing First Nations communities in a historic class proceeding against the federal government regarding the drinking water crisis on reserves, resulting in an $8 billion settlement. 

Stephanie’s commitment to her community is evidenced by her roles on the board of directors for the Indigenous Bar Association, as a volunteer lawyer at the PBSC Indigenous Human Rights Clinic and as a mentor in the Martin Family Initiative Indigenous Mentoring Program. 

At APTN, Stephanie aims to leverage her legal acumen and passion for Indigenous rights to further the network’s mission of uplifting Indigenous voices and perspectives in the media.