Hannah Askew
Co-Chair
Hannah Askew is a part of West Coast Environmental Law’s Aboriginal and Natural Resources law team. She is passionate about working at the intersection of Indigenous law and environmental protection. Prior to joining West Coast, Hannah produced legal syntheses on Coast Salish and Annishinabek law for the Indigenous Law Research Unit and the Accessing Justice and Reconciliation Project on “Revitalizing Indigenous Laws.” She looks forward to continuing to deepen her knowledge of Indigenous legal orders in relation to environmental governance through her work with West Coast.
Hannah graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School and articled with Crown Law Office- Criminal where she participated in the Implementation Committee to address the recommendations of the Honourable Frank Iacobucci in his report on First Nations Representation on Ontario Juries. A highlight of this experience was spending time in Northwestern Ontario traveling to remote Oji-Cree communities to attend fly-in court proceedings, and having the opportunity to learn from local residents.
Prior to becoming a lawyer, Hannah did graduate work in history and anthropology and taught in the Aboriginal Justice Studies program at the Native Education College in Vancouver. She also worked as a legal intern at the Centre for Minority Rights Development in Nairobi, Kenya where she assisted in drafting policy recommendations to facilitate the devolution of land-use governance authority back to Indigenous communities, as required by Kenya’s 2010 Constitution.
Hannah’s roots are in BC where her family has lived on Okanagan, Secwepemc and Coast Salish territory for several generations. She is thrilled to be back and working with West Coast Environmental Law.
