Community Legal Workers (CLWs)

Community Legal Workers provide legal, paralegal, and law-related services to the band members of Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN). CLW’s work with justice personnel and NAN communities. They help clients with legal matters and are often the first point of contact for clients in the court process. They help clients apply for Legal Aid and to find a lawyer.

Community Legal Workers help clients through the justice system and to understand the legal process

CLW’s may reside in First Nations communities they serve, have office locations in Thunder Bay,  Sioux Lookout,  Timmins, and Kenora.  CLW’s speak the language of the communities they serve.

Legal Aid

Do you qualify for Legal Aid Certificate?

Click here

Community Legal Workers

Jacob Mekanak
Tel: (807) 622-1413
Cell: (807) 630-9503
Fax: (807) 344-6904
Toll Free: 1-800-465-5581
Email: jmekanak@nanlegal.on.ca
56 Front Street, Upper Floor
Sioux Lookout, ON P8T 1B8
Bearskin Lake, Cat Lake, New Slate Falls, Sachigo Lake, North Caribou Lake (Weagamow), Mishkeegogamang (New Osnaburgh)

Don Sainnawap
Tel: (807) 737-5201
Cell: (807) 738-5076
Fax: (807) 737-7297
Toll Free: 1-800-465-5581
Email: dsainnawap@nanlegal.on.ca
56 Front Street, Upper Floor, Sioux Lookout, ON P8T 1B8
Kasabonika Lake, Kingfisher Lake, Wapekeka, Wawakapewin, Wunnumin Lake

Tel: (807) 737-5201
Fax: (807) 737-7297
Toll Free: 1-800-465-5581
Deer Lake, North Spirit Lake, Poplar Hill, Keewaywin, MacDowell Lake, Fort Severn

Robert Ostamas
Tel: (807) 622- 1413
Cell: (807) 632- 6339
Fax: (807) 344- 6904
Toll Free: 1- 800- 465- 5581
Email: rostamas@nanlegal.on.ca
101 Syndicate Avenue North, Suite 314, Thunder Bay, ON P7C 3V4
Eabametoong, Webequie, Nibinimak, Ogoki Post, Neskantaga

Lena O’kees
Cell: (807) 464- 5599
Toll Free: 1-800-465-5581
Email: lokees@nanlegal.on.ca
37 Front Street, Sioux Lookout, ON P8T 1B8
Big Trout Lake, Muskrat Dam, Lac Seul, Sandy Lake
 

 

Stella Kiokee-Koostachin
Tel: (705) 997-1285
Fax: (705) 997-7234
Toll Free: 1-800-465-5581
Email: skoostachin@nanlegal.on.ca
P.O. Box 152,
Attawapiskat, ON, P0L 1A0
Attawapiskat, Fort Albany,
Kashechewan, Peawanuk,

Roberta Wesley
Tel: (705) 463-1155
Cell: (705)-373-2100
Fax: (705) 463-2255
Toll Free: 1-800-465-5581
Email: rwesley@nanlegal.on.ca
37 Wawaskashoo, P.O. Box 236,
Constance Lake, ON P0L 1B0
Aroland, Constance Lake, Ginoogaming,
Hornepayne, Long Lake #58

Jackie Edwards
Tel: (705) 268-5544 ext. 204
Cell: (705) 221- 1112
Fax: (705) 268-0012
Toll Free: 1-800-465-5581
Email: jedwards@nanlegal.on.ca
119 Pine Street S., Suite210,
Timmins, ON P4N 2K3
Takway Tagmou, Wahgoshig,
Moose Factory, Moosonee

Madeline Kioke
Tel: (705) 268- 5544 ext. 203
Cell: (705) 221- 1113
Fax: (705) 268- 0012
Toll Free: 1-800-465-5581
Email: mkioke@nanlegal.on.ca
119 Pine Street S., Suite 210,
Timmins, ON P4N 2K3
Beaverhouse, Brunswick House, Chapleau Ojibway,
Chapleau Cree, Matachewan, Mattagmi

Darlene Suggashie
Cell : (807) 620-5441
Toll Free: 1- 800- 465- 5581
Email: dsuggashie@nanlegal.on.ca
Pikangikum, ON P0V 2L0
Pikangikum

Updated January 19, 2024

Advance Days & Courts

Community Legal Workers attend court in the communities they serve.  Some of them also attend courts held in urban centers, e.g. Thunder Bay, Sioux Lookout,  Geraldton, Hearst, Timmins,  Cochrane, and Moosonee.

Community Legal Workers are required to be available in the community on the day before court (Advance Day)  and on the Court Day – for all fly-in Courts.

Advance Day is a good time to have your Community Legal Worker help you, e.g. completing forms (e.g. birth registration. etc.) or to have an affidavit sworn.

Community Legal Workers function as:

  • Court workers
  • Interpreters for clients,  Duty Counsel, and defense lawyers
  • Commissioners of Oaths for Swearing Affidavits
  • Links between NALSC and the First Nation communities
  • Working with the Advice Lawyer and Staff Lawyer
  • Assisting with the Public Legal Education