b'SUGAR BUSH MOONhelped launch a national First Nationshas a lot to be proud of. But what givesknowing that their voices are the future. water class action lawsuit against theWhetung-MacInnes the biggest sense ofShe recalls her own role models and federal government. Curve Lake Firstaccomplishment are her childrentwowomen who inspired her early on, such as Nation and Neskantaga First Nationsons, both under 10 years old. They arelawyer Delia Opekokew.launched the lawsuit in Ontario inthe driving motivator behind her work: 2019. A second lawsuit was also filed byWhetung-MacInnes wants to leave theThrough it all, Whetung-MacInnes has Tataskweyak Cree Nation in Manitoba,world a better place for her children thanproven time and again how fostering concerning prolonged drinking waterhow she found it.advisories on First Nations reserves acrosslateral kindness and speaking truth to the country. Whetung-MacInnes has seen first-handpower creates actionable change. Its the impact that young voices can have.important to hold your head up high and The Canadian government agreedShe encourages Indigenous women andspeak your truth, Whetung-MacInnes to settle in July 2021. The settlementtheir families to foster and support theconcludes. [And to] know you have a included, among other conditions, $1.5growth of young Indigenous people,network of women behind you. billion in compensation for individuals deprived of clean drinking water, the creation of a $400-million First Nation Economic and Cultural Restoration Fund and a renewed commitment to Canadas action plan for the lifting of all long-termJFKdrinking water advisories. That compensa-tion covered about 142,000 individuals from 258 First Nations as well as 120 First Nations communities.LAW LLP Victoria . Vancouver . Calgary. Edmonton . Ohsweken . TorontoWhetung-MacInnes admits that the lawsuit period was challenging at times,JFK Law represents Indigenous communities throughoutas she balanced her law background with her role as a community leader. SheCanada. We work with our clients to advance theirfound solace in the voices by her side: twoNations, protect their rights and build their economies.young Indigenous female lawyers, Alana Robert and Stephanie Willsey, who were instrumental in the proceedings andConsultation,represented the case in federal court. ItsLitigation and Corporate Accommodationnot something you hear a lot of, saysDispute & Commercial and RegulatoryWhetung-MacInnes. Resolution ServicesReviewWhetung-MacInness time as Chief of her community saw many proud moments of community resilience and actionableDriven by a passionchange. But nearing the end of her polit-ical term, Whetung-MacInnes decidedComplex for justice, we offer Economicpolitics were not for her; she held theNegotiations creative legal Development andposition until the summer of 2022 andsolutions and work Governancedecided not to seek re-election.towards meaningfulDuring her time as a community leader,change.Whetung-MacInnes had observed the work of OPG and took note of the companys Reconciliation Action Plan. AsMeet JFK Laws women leadershipChief, she went from opposing nuclear generation to supporting that type of Image - Frog by Evan Asterclean energy. Once her term ended, Whetung-MacInnes took on a role as senior advisor of Indigenous engagement at the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Energies in 2022, before moving on to a position at OPG in 2023. Once there, Whetung-MacInnes was able to grow into Sara Mainville Erin Thomson-Leach Su Hutchinson Karey Brooks KC Aria Laskin Robin Phillips Claire Truesdaleher role and shares that she has sinceManaging Partner Partner COO Partner Partner Partner Partnerbuilt a good team. Between her career in law, her time as Chief handling a global pandemic and now working as the director of IndigenousJFKlaw.capartnerships at OPG, Whetung-MacInnes Ontario Native Womens Association25'