Evelyn Baxter is an Ojibway/Cree originally from Marten Falls First Nation in Northern Ontario.  Her family lived off the land for many years hunting, fishing and trapping.  As a young girl, Evelyn was regularly exposed to these activities, and to this day, she still goes with her family to practise these pursuits as often as she can.  

Evelyn has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Lakehead University (1988).   She received her law degree from Queen’s University in Kingston in 1991.  Evelyn was called to the Ontario Bar in 1993.  

Her achievements make her the first member of Marten Falls First Nation and in all of Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN)(Treaty #9) to receive a Bachelor of Laws and to become a lawyer.
 
Evelyn has always tried to maintain a practice focussing on Aboriginal issues and litigation, and has been associated with Nishnawbe Aski Nation for over 15 years in various capacities.  Over the years, she has worked as an associate in law firms in Thunder Bay and Toronto.  Her areas of practice have been in civil litigation, criminal law and in Aboriginal issues related mainly to resource development, consultation/accommodation and Aboriginal/Treaty rights.  

Her  latest  position was as Executive Director of Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services Corporation (NALSC),  and just prior to that, Evelyn worked at NAN as the Lands & Resources Coordinator and Legal Advisor.  

Evelyn is acutely aware of the issues, challenges and the opportunities  First Nations face and has dedicated most of her career to working with and for them.  Her work with NAN First Nations over the years gave her valuable experience, and she was able to become involved with writing the NAN Consultation Policy Handbook, and eventually she went to the United Nations where she presented her paper on the impacts of resource development on the First Nations of Treaty #9.  Later she prepared NAN’s written submissions for their role in the Canada/USA softwood lumber dispute to the World Trade Organization.

Most recently, Evelyn has associated with Maurice Law to assist in building a presence and practice in Ontario with First Nations involved in resource development issues.  In additions, Evelyn is also an Adjudicator for the Indian Residential Schools Independent Assessment Process, and is the Nishnawbe Aski Nation representative on the Ipperwash Implementation Task Force.  

Evelyn resides in and works from Thunder Bay, Ontario.